royal \roy"al\, a. oe. roial, riall, real, of. roial. reial, f.
   royal, fr. l. regalis, fr. rex, regis, king. see rich, and
   cf. regal, real a coin, rial.
   1. kingly; pertaining to the crown or the sovereign; suitable
      for a king or queen; regal; as, royal power or
      prerogative; royal domains; the royal family; royal state.
      1913 webster

   2. noble; generous; magnificent; princely.
      1913 webster

            how doth that royal merchant, good antonio? --shak.
      1913 webster

   3. under the patronage of royality; holding a charter granted
      by the sovereign; as, the royal academy of arts; the royal
      society.
      1913 webster

   battle royal. see under battle.

   royal bay bot., the classic laurel laurus nobilis.

   royal eagle. zool. see golden eagle, under golden.

   royal fern bot., the handsome fern osmunda regalis. see
      osmund.

   royal mast naut., the mast next above the topgallant mast
      and usually the highest on a square-rigged vessel. the
      royal yard and royal sail are attached to the royal mast.
      

   royal metal, an old name for gold.

   royal palm bot., a magnificent west indian palm tree
      oreodoxa regia, lately discovered also in florida.

   royal pheasant. see curassow.

   royal purple, an intense violet color, verging toward blue.
      

   royal tern zool., a large, crested american tern sterna
      maxima.

   royal tiger. zool. see tiger.

   royal touch, the touching of a diseased person by the hand
      of a king, with the view of restoring to health; --
      formerly extensively practiced, particularly for the
      scrofula, or king's evil.
      1913 webster

   syn: kingly; regal; monarchical; imperial; kinglike;
        princely; august; majestic; superb; splendid;
        illustrious; noble; magnanimous.
        1913 webster
see also:
rich regal real rial battle royal battle 
royal bay laurus nobilis royal eagle golden eagle golden 
royal fern osmunda regalis osmund royal mast royal metal 
royal palm oreodoxa regia royal pheasant curassow royal purple 
royal tern sterna maxima royal tiger tiger royal touch