See Also: RATE(law)
All-in-rate(money)
pro-rate(dictionary)
rate(1)(dictionary)
rate(2)(dictionary)
Tax Rate(money)
rate(3)(dictionary)
first-rate(dictionary)
rate(4)(dictionary)
rate(dictionary)

third-rate (iou)



third-rate adjective & noun. Also (the usual form in sense A.1) third rate. M17.
[from THIRD adjective + RATE noun1.]
A. noun.
Hist. The third of the rates or classes by which warships were distinguished according to the number of guns they carried; a warship of this rate or class. M17.
A person or thing of third-rate or inferior class. rare. E19.
b. adjective.
Hist. Of a warship: of the third rate. M17.
Of the third class in terms of quality or excellence; below second-rate; of very low or inferior quality. E19.
Atlantic An underpaid hack in a windowless annex of a third-rate institution.
third-rater noun a third-rate person or thing E19.