Dovetailing.
Dovetail, duv′tāl,n.a mode of fastening boards together by fitting pieces shaped like a wedge or a dove's tail spread out (tenons) into corresponding cavities (mortises).—v.t.to fit one thing into another.
Dow, dow,v.i.(obs.) to be good for a purpose: (Scot.) to be able.—p.adjs.Docht,Dought. [A.S.dugan.]
Dowager, dow′a-jėr,n.a widow with a dower or jointure: a title given to a widow to distinguish her from the wife of her husband's heir. [O. Fr.douagere—Low L.dotarium—L.dotāre, to endow.]
Dowdy, dow′di,adj.untidy, carelessly dressed, soft and slack in habit.—n.an untidy woman.—adv.Dow′dily.—ns.Dow′diness,Dow′dyism.—adj.Dow′dyish. [Ety. unknown.]
Dowel, dow′el,n.a pin of wood or iron inserted in the edges of two adjacent boards for the purpose of fastening them together.—v.t.to fasten by means of dowels.—ns.Dow′el-joint;Dow′el-pin. [Prob. related to Ger.döbel, a plug.]
Dower, dow′ėr,n.a jointure, that part of the husband's property which his widow enjoys during her life—sometimes used forDow′ry.—adjs.Dow′able, that may be endowed;Dow′ered, furnished with dower.—n.Dow′er-house, the house set apart for the widow.—adj.Dow′erless. [O. Fr.douaire—Low L.dotarium—L.dotāre, to endow.]
Dowf, dowf,adj.(Scot.) dull, heavy, spiritless.—n.Dowf′ness. [Prob. Ice.daufr, deaf.]
Dowie, dow′i,adj.(Scot.) dull, low-spirited, sad. [Prob. A.S.dol, dull.]
Dowlas, dowlas,n.a coarse linen cloth. [FromDaoulasorDoulas, near Brest, in Brittany.]
Dowle, dowl,n.(Shak.) a portion of down in a feather.
Down, down,n.the soft hair under the feathers of fowls: the hairy covering of the seeds of certain plants: anything which soothes or invites to repose.—n.Down′-bed.—p.adj.Downed, filled or covered with down.—ns.Down′iness;Down′-quilt.—adj.Down′y, covered with or made of down: like down: soft: soothing: (slang) knowing.—The downy(slang), bed. [Ice.dúnn; Ger.daune,dune.]
Down, down,n.a bank of sand thrown up by the sea (same asDune): a treeless land: (pl.) a tract of hilly land, used for pasturing sheep, as the North Downs (Kent) and South Downs (Sussex)—also given to the famous roadstead off the east coast of Kent, inside the Goodwin Sands. [A.S.dún, a hill; prob. from Celt.dun, as inDunkeld, &c.]
Down, down,adv.from a higher to a lower position: on the ground: from earlier to later times: from thick to thin, from large to small (to boil down, to cut down): from more to less (to beat down a price).—prep.along a descent: from a higher to a lower position or state.—v.t.to knock down: to dispirit—also used as a kind of interjection, withget,go,come,kneel, &c. understood.—n.a tendency to be down upon, a grudge against: a descent, reverse of fortune.—v.i.Down′-bear, to bear or press down.—adj.Down′cast, dejected.—ns.Down′come, a fall, ruin, a heavy pour of rain;Down′-draught, a current of air downwards;Down′-east′er, one living 'down east' from the speaker, a New Englander, and esp. an inhabitant of Maine;Down′fall, fall, failure, humiliation, ruin: a falling down, as of rain.—adjs.Down′fallen, ruined;Down′-gyved(Shak.), hanging down like fetters.—n.Down′-haul, a rope by which a jib, &c., is hauled down when set.—adjs.Down′-heart′ed, dejected;Down′hill, descending, sloping.—n.Down′-line, the line of a railway leading from the capital, or other important centre, to the provinces.—adj.Down′looked(Dryden), downcast, gloomy.—ns.Down′-ly′ing, time of retiring to rest: a woman's lying-in;Down′pour, a heavy fall of rain, &c.—adv.Down′right(obs.), perpendicular: in plain terms: utterly.—adj.plain spoken: brusque: utter (as indownright madness).—ns.Down′rightness;Down′rush, a rushing down (as of gas, hot air, &c.);Down′-set′ting, a setting down, a snub;Down′-sit′ting, sitting down, time of rest (Ps. cxxxix. 2).—advs.Down′stairs, in, or to, a lower story;Down′-stream, with the current.—ns.Down′-throw, act of throwing down, state of being thrown down: a sinking of strata below the level of the surrounding beds;Down′-train, a railway train proceeding from the chief terminus.—adj.Down′-trodden, trampled on, tyrannised over.—advs.Down′ward,Down′wards, from higher to lower: from source to outlet: from more ancient to modern: in the lower part.—adj.Down′ward.—Down east(U.S.), in or into Maine and adjoining parts of New England;Down in the mouth, in low spirits;Down on one's luck, in ill-luck;Down south, in the southern states;Down to the country, away into the country, from London (hence 'down to the Derby,' 'down to Scotland');Down with your money, lay it down, pay it.—A down-train, a train away from London.—Lay down the law, to expound authoritatively. [A corr. of M. E.a-dawn,adun—A.S.of dúne, 'from the hill'—A.S.dún, a hill.]
Dowry, dow′ri,n.the property which a woman brings to her husband at marriage—sometimes used fordower. [SeeDower.]
Dowse, dows,v.t.andv.i.SeeDouse.
Dowse, dows,v.i.to use the divining-rod.—n.Dows′er, a water diviner.
Doxology, doks-ol′o-ji,n.a hymn expressing praise and honour to the Trinity.—adj.Doxolog′ical. [Gr.doxologia—doxa, praise, andlegein, to speak.]
Doxy, dok′si,n.(Shak.) a mistress: a woman of loose character. [Prob. conn. with East Fries.dok, a bundle, Low Ger.dokke.]
Doxy, dok′si,n.opinion—'Orthodoxy,' said Warburton, 'is my doxy—heterodoxy is another man's doxy.' [Gr.doxa, opinion.]
Doyen, dwaw′yong,n.dean, senior member (of an academy, diplomatic corps, &c.). [Fr.,—Lat.dēcanus.]
Doyley.SeeDoily.
Doze, dōz,v.i.to sleep lightly, or to be half-asleep: to be in a dull or stupefied state.—v.i.to spend in drowsiness (withaway).—n.a short light sleep.—adj.Dozed, drowsy.—v.t.Dō′zen(Scot.), to stupefy.—v.i.to become stupefied.—ns.Dō′zer;Dō′ziness;Dō′zing.—adj.Dō′zy, drowsy. [From a Scand. root, seen in Ice.dúsa, Dan.döse, to dose.]
Dozen, duz′n,adj.two and ten, or twelve.—n.a collection of twelve articles.—adj.Doz′enth.—Baker's dozen,Devil's dozen, thirteen. [O. Fr.dozeine—L.duodecim—duo, two, anddecem, ten.]
Drab, drab,n.a low, sluttish woman: a whore.—v.i.to associate with bad women.—ns.Drab′ber, one who herds with drabs;Drab′biness.—adjs.Drab′bish,Drab′by, sluttish. [Celt.; Gael.drabag; Ir.drabog, slut.]
Drab, drab,n.thick, strong, gray cloth: a gray or dull-brown colour, perh. from the muddy colour of undyed wool. [Fr.drap, cloth—Low L.drappus, prob. Teut.]
Drabbet, drab′et,n.a coarse linen fabric made at Barnsley.
Drabble, drab′l,v.t.to besmear with mud and water.—n.Drabb′ling, a manner of fishing for barbels with a rod and long line passed through a piece of lead. [Cf.drivel,dribble; prob. conn. withdrab, a low woman.]
Drabbler, drab′ler,n.an additional piece of canvas, laced to the bottom of the bonnet of a sail, to give it greater depth.
Dracanth, drak′anth,n.gum tragacanth.
Dracæna, dra-sē′na,n.the tree which produces the resin called Dragon's-blood.—n.Dracī′na, the red resin of dragon's-blood used to colour varnishes—alsoDracine′,Dracō′nin. [Low L.dracæna, a she-dragon—Gr.drakaina, fem. ofdrakōn, dragon.]
Drachm, dram,n.SeeDrachma,Dram.
Drachma, drak′ma,n.an ancient Greek weight, and silver coin of different values: a modern Greek coin = above 9½d. sterling. [Gr.drachmē—drassesthai, to grasp with the hand.]
Draco, drā′kō,n.a northern constellation: a dragon-lizard.
Draconian, dra-kō′nyan,adj.severe, as was the legislation, ofDraco, the Athenian archon (621B.C.).—AlsoDracon′ic.
Dracontium, drā-kon′shi-um,n.a genus of American araceous plants: the root of the skunk-cabbage. [Gr.,—drakōn, a dragon.]
Dracunculus, drā-kun′kū-lus,n.a herbaceous genus ofAraceæ; a dragonet or goby of genusCallionymus: a genus of worms, the guinea-worm. [L., dim, ofdraco, a dragon.]
Drad, drad,p.adj.orn.form used by Spenser fordreadanddreaded.
Draff, draf,n.dregs: the refuse of malt that has been brewed from.—adjs.Draff′ish,Draff′y, worthless. [Prob. related to Dut.draf, Ger.träber.]
Draft, dräft,n.anything drawn: a selection of men from an army, &c.: an order for the payment of money: lines drawn for a plan: a rough sketch: the depth to which a vessel sinks in water.—v.t.to draw an outline of: to compose and write: to draw off: to detach.—ns.Draft′-bar, a swingle-tree, the bar to which the coupling of a railway-carriage is attached;Draft′-horse, a horse used for drawing the plough, heavy loads, &c., in distinction to a carriage or saddle horse;Draft′-ox, an ox used for drawing loads;Drafts′man, one who draws plans or designs;Drafts′manship. [A corr. ofDraught.]
Drafts, dräfts,n.pl.a game. [SeeDraughts.]
Drag, drag,v.t.to draw by force: to draw slowly: to pull roughly and violently: to explore with a drag-net or hook.—v.i.to hang so as to trail on the ground: to be forcibly drawn along: to move slowly and heavily:—pr.p.drag′ging;pa.p.dragged.—n.a net or hook for dragging along to catch things under water: a heavy harrow: a device for guiding wood to the saw: a mail-coach: a long open carriage, with transverse or side seats: a contrivance for retarding carriage-wheels in going down slopes: any obstacle to progress: an artificial scent (anise-seed, &c.) dragged on the ground for foxhounds trained to the pursuit (Drag′-hounds) to follow: (billiards) a push somewhat under the centre of the cue-ball, causing it to follow the object-ball a short way.—ns.Drag′-bar, a strong iron bar for connecting railway-carriages together—alsoDraw′-bar;Drag′-bolt, a strong bolt passing through the drag-bar of railway-carriages, and serving to fasten the coupling;Drag′-chain, the chain that connects engine and tender, or carriages and wagons, with one another;Drag′-man, a fisherman who uses a drag-net;Drag′-net, a net to be dragged or drawn along the bottom of water to catch fish;Drags′man, the driver of a drag or coach. [A.S.dragan; Ger.tragen. Acc. to Curtius, nowise conn. with L.trahĕre.]
Dragantin, dra-gan′tin,n.a mucilage obtained from gum tragacanth.
Draggle, drag′l,v.t.orv.i.to make or become wet and dirty by dragging along the ground.—n.Dragg′le-tail, a slut.—adj.Dragg′le-tailed. [Freq. ofdrag, and a doublet ofdrawl.]
Dragoman, drag′o-man,n.an interpreter or guide in Eastern countries:—pl.Drag′omans. [Fr., from Ar.tarjumân—tarjama, to interpret. SeeTargum.]
Dragon, drag′un,n.a fabulous winged serpent: the constellation Draco: a fierce person: the flying lizard of the East Indies.—ns.Drag′onet, a little dragon: a genus of fishes of the goby family;Drag′on-fly, an insect with a long body and brilliant colours.—v.t.Drag′onise, to turn into a dragon: to watch like a dragon.—adjs.Drag′onish,Drag′on-like.—n.Drag′onism, watchful guardianship.—adj.Dragonné(her.), like a dragon in the hinder part, and a lion or the like in the fore part.—ns.Drag′on's-blood, the red resinous exudation of several kinds of trees in the W. and E. Indies, used for colouring;Drag′on's-head, a plant of genusDracocephalum, of the mint family (Labiatæ): (her.) tenné or tawny when blazoning is done by the heavenly bodies;Drag′on-shell, a cowry;Drag′on's-wort, tarragon or snake-weed;Drag′on-tree(same asDracæna). [Fr.,—L.draco,draconis—Gr.drakōn, from aorist ofderk-esthai, to look.]
Dragonnade, drag-on-ād′,n.the persecution of French Protestants under Louis XIV. by raids of dragoons: abandonment of a place to the violence of soldiers. [Fr., fromdragon, dragoon.]
Dragoon, dra-gōōn′,n.formerly a soldier trained to fight either on horseback or on foot, now applied only to heavy cavalry as opposed to hussars and lancers.—v.t.to give up to the rage of soldiers: to compel by violent measures.—n.Dragoon′-bird, the umbrella-bird. [Fr. SeeDragon.]
Dragsman.SeeDrag.
Drail, drāl,n.the iron bow of a plough from which the traces draw: a piece of lead round the shank of the hook in fishing.—v.i.to draggle.
Drain, drān,v.t.to draw off by degrees: to filter: to clear of water by drains: to make dry: to drink dry: to exhaust.—v.i.to flow off gradually.—n.a watercourse: a ditch: a sewer: (slang) a drink: exhausting expenditure.—adj.Drain′able.—ns.Drain′age, the drawing off of water by rivers or other channels: the system of drains in a town;Drain′age-basin, the area of land which drains into one river;Drain′age-tube, a tube of silver, india-rubber, glass, &c., introduced by a surgeon into a wound or abscess to draw off pus, &c.;Drain′er, a utensil on which articles are placed to drain;Drain′ing-en′gine, a pumping-engine for mines, &c.;Drain′ing-plough, a form of plough used in making drains;Drain′-pipe;Drain′-tile;Drain′-trap, a contrivance for preventing the escape of foul air from drains, but admitting the water into them. [A.S.dréahnigan—dragan, to draw.]
Drake, drāk,n.the male of the duck.—n.Drake′stone, a flat stone thrown along the surface of water so as to graze it and then rebound. [Ety. dub.; cf. prov. Ger.draak; O. High Ger.antrahho, Ger.enterich, the first element usually explained aseend,end,anut, 'duck.']
Drake, drāk,n.a dragon: a fiery meteor: a beaked galley, or Viking ship of war: an angler's name for species ofEphemera. [A.S.draca, dragon—L.draco.]
Dram, dram,n.a contraction ofDrachm:1⁄16th of an oz. avoirdupois: formerly, with apothecaries, ⅛th of an oz.: as much raw spirits as is drunk at once.—v.i.to drink a dram.—v.t.to give a dram to.—ns.Dram′-drink′er;Dram′-shop. [Through Fr. and L., from Gr.drachmē. SeeDrachma.]
Drama, dram′a,n.a story of human life and action represented by actors imitating the language, dress, &c. of the original characters: a composition intended to be represented on the stage: dramatic literature: theatrical entertainment: a series of deeply interesting events.—adjs.Dramatic,-al, belonging to the drama: appropriate to or in the form of a drama: with the force and vividness of the drama.—adv.Dramat′ically.—n.Dramat′icism.—adj.Dram′atīsable.—n.Dramatisā′tion, the act of dramatising: the dramatised version of a novel or story.—v.i.Dram′atīse, to compose in, or turn into, the form of a drama or play.—n.Dram′atist, a writer of plays.—Dram′atispersō′næ(-ē), the characters of a drama or play. [L.,—Gr.drama,dramatos—draein, to do.]
Dramaturgy, dram′a-tur-ji,n.the principles of dramatic composition: theatrical art.—ns.Dram′aturge,Dram′aturgist, a playwright.—adj.Dram′aturgic. [Through Fr. from Gr.dramatourgia,dramatourgos, playwright—drama, andergon, a work.]
Drammock, dram′ok,n.meal and water mixed raw.
Drank, drangk,pa.t.ofDrink.
Drant, drant,v.i.andv.t.(prov.) to drawl, to drone.—n.a droning tone.
Draper, drāp′ėr,n.one who deals in drapery or cloth:—fem.Drap′eress.—n.Drap-de-Berry, a woollen cloth, coming fromBerryin France.—v.t.Drape, to cover with cloth.—p.adj.Drap′eried, draped.—n.Drap′ery, cloth goods: hangings of any kind: the draper's business: (art) the representation of the dress of human figures.—v.t.to drape.—n.Drap′et(Spens.), cloth, coverlet. [Fr.drapier—drap, from a Teut. root. SeeDrab.]
Drappie,Drappy, drap′i,n.(Scot.) a little drop, esp. of spirits.
Drastic, dras′tik,adj.active, powerful.—n.a medicine that purges quickly or thoroughly.—adv.Dras′tically. [Gr.drastikos—draein, to act, to do.]
Drat, drat,v.t.a minced oath used to express vexation, as 'Drat the boy!' [Aphetic from God rot!]
Dratchell, drach′el,n.(prov.) a slut.—AlsoDrotch′ell.
Draught, dräft,n.act of drawing: force needed to draw: the act of drinking: the quantity drunk at a time: outline of a picture: that which is taken in a net by drawing: a chosen detachment of men: a current of air: the depth to which a ship sinks in the water.—v.t.(more commonlyDraft), to draw out.—n.Draught′-en′gine, the engine over the shaft of a coal-pit.—n.pl.Draught′-hooks, large iron hooks fixed on the cheeks of a cannon-carriage.—ns.Draught′-house(B.), a sink, privy;Draught′iness;Draught′-net, a drag-net.—n.pl.Draughts, a game in which two persons make alternate moves (draughts) on a checkered board, called theDraught′board, with pieces calledDraughts′men—U.S.checkers, Scot.dambrod.—n.Draughts′man(seeDraftsman).—adj.Draught′y, full of draughts or currents of air. [M. E.draht—A.S.dragan, to draw. SeeDrag,v., andDraw.]
Drave, drāv, oldpa.t.ofDrive.
Dravidian, dra-vid′i-an,n.of the non-Aryan stock to which the Tamil, Telugu, Canarese, and Malayālam speaking peoples of Southern India belong: of the languages of these races. [Sans.Drāvida, an ancient province of Southern India.]
Draw, draw,v.t.to pull along: to bring forcibly towards one: to entice, attract: to coax into giving information: to make one express himself (also toDraw out a man): to inhale: to take out: to evoke or bring out by some artifice: to extract by pulling: to cast lots: to extract the essence of: to eviscerate (hang,draw, and quarter): to manufacture (wire) by drawing through a small hole: to deduce: to lengthen: to extend to the full length (as in drawing a bow): to force to appear (as a badger from its hole): to receive (as revenues): to demand money by a draft: to make a picture of, by lines drawn: to describe: to require a depth of water for floating.—v.i.to pull: to practise drawing: to move: to approach: to have a free current (of a chimney):—pa.t.drew (drōō);pa.p.drawn.—n.the act of drawing: anything drawn: a drawn or undecided game.—adj.Draw′able.—ns.Draw′back, a disadvantage: a receiving back some part of the duty on goods on their exportation;Draw′-bar(same asDrag-bar);Draw′-boy, the boy who pulls the cords of the harness in figure-weaving, a mechanical device for this purpose;Draw′bridge, a bridge that can be drawn up or let down at pleasure;Drawēē′, the person on whom a bill of exchange is drawn;Draw′er, he or that which draws: one who draws beer or fetches liquor in a tavern: a thing drawn out, like the sliding box in a case: (pl.) a close under-garment for the lower limbs;Draw′-gear, the apparatus by which railway-cars are coupled;Draw′ing, the art of representing objects by lines drawn, shading, &c.: a picture: the distribution of prizes, as at a lottery;Draw′ing-board;Draw′ing-frame, a machine in which carded wool, cotton, or the like is drawn out fine;Draw′ing-knife, a knife with a handle at each end, used by coopers for shaving hoops by drawing it towards one;Draw′ing-mas′ter;Draw′ing-pā′per;Draw′ing-pen;Draw′ing-pen′cil;Draw′ing-room, in engineering, a room where plans and patterns are drawn;Draw′ing-tā′ble, a table which can be extended in length by drawing out sliding leaves;Draw′-net(same asDrag-net);Draw′-plate, a plate of steel or ruby with a hole drilled in it through which wire, tubing, or the like is drawn to make it more slender;Draw′-well, a well from which water is drawn up by a bucket and apparatus.—Draw a bead on(seeBead);Draw a blank(seeBlank);Draw a cover, to send the hounds into a cover to frighten out a fox;Draw blank, to do so, but find no fox;Draw back, to retire: to withdraw from an engagement;Draw cuts, to cast lots;Draw in, to reduce, contract: to become shorter;Draw it fine, to be too precise;Draw it mild, to state a thing without exaggeration;Draw near, to approach;Draw off, to take wine, ale, &c. out of a barrel: to retire;Draw on, to approach (of a fixed date);Draw on one's imagination, to make imaginative or lying statements;Draw on one's memory, to try to remember;Draw out, to leave the place (of an army), &c.;Draw over, to persuade to desert to the other side;Draw rein, to slacken speed, to stop;Draw the line, to fix a limit;Draw up, to form in regular order: to arrange or to be arranged (as troops): to compose (as a protest, &c.): to stop (as in driving a carriage).—In drawing, correctly drawn;Out of drawing, inaccurately drawn, or drawn in violation of the principles of drawing. [A later form ofDrag.]
Drawcansir, draw′kan-sėr,n.a blustering fellow, a braggart. [The name of a character in Buckingham'sRehearsal(1671).]
Drawing-room, draw′ing-rōōm,n.a room to which the company withdraws after dinner: a reception of company at court.—Drawing-room car, a railway-carriage fitted up as a drawing-room. [Orig.Withdrawing-room.]
Drawl, drawl,v.i.(obs.) to dawdle: to speak in a slow, lengthened tone.—v.t.to utter (words) in a slow and sleepy manner.—n.a slow, lengthened utterance.—n.Drawl′er.—adv.Drawl′ingly.—n.Drawl′ingness. [Freq. ofdraw, asdraggleofdrag.]
Drawn, drawn,part.andadj.fromDraw, esp. in 'a drawn game or battle,' undecided.—Drawn and quartered, disembowelled and cut into quarters.—At daggers drawn, openly hostile.
Dray, drā,n.a low strong cart for heavy goods; that which is dragged or drawn.—ns.Dray′age;Dray′-horse;Dray′man;Dray′-plough. [A.S.dræge, fromdragan. SeeDrag,v.]
Drazel, drāz′el,n.(prov.) a slut.
Dread, dred,n.fear: awe: the objects that excite fear.—adj.dreaded: inspiring great fear or awe.—v.t.to regard with terror: to regard with reverence.—adjs.Dread′able;Dread′ful, (orig.) full of dread: producing great fear or awe: terrible.—adv.Dread′fully.—n.Dread′fulness.—adj.Dread′less, free from dread: intrepid.—adv.Dread′lessly.—n.Dread′lessness.—adj.Dread′ly(Spens.) dreadful.—ns.Dread′naught,Dread′nought, one who dreads nothing—hence, a garment of thick cloth defending against the weather: the cloth of which it is made.—Penny dreadful, a cheap sensational serial or tale, usually bloody in subject and vulgar in tone. [M. E.dreden—A.S.on-drǽdan, to fear; Ice.ondréda, Old High Ger.in-tratan, to be afraid.]
Dream, drēm,n.a train of thoughts and fancies during sleep, a vision: something only imaginary.—v.i.to fancy things during sleep: to think idly.—v.t.to see in, or as in, a dream:—pa.t.andpa.p.dreamed or dreamt (dremt).—ns.Dream′er;Dream′ery, a place favourable to dreams: dream-work.—adj.Dream′ful(Tenn.), dreamy.—n.Dream′hole, one of the holes in the walls of steeples, towers, &c., for admitting light.—adv.Dream′ily.—n.Dream′iness.—adv.Dream′ingly.—n.Dream′land, the land of dreams, reverie, or imagination.—adj.Dream′less, free from dreams.—ns.Dream′while, the duration of a dream;Dream′world, a world of illusions.—adj.Dream′y, full of dreams: appropriate to dreams: dream-like. [M. E.dream,drēm, not recorded in A.S., but pointing to an assumed A.S.dréam, cog. with O. High Ger.troum, O. Norsedraum, &c. This is distinct from the A.S.dréam, mirth, minstrelsy, being ultimately related todreug-,draug-,drug-, to deceive, the radical sense therefore 'illusion.']
Drear, drēr,Dreary,drēr′i,adj.gloomy: cheerless.—adv.Drear′ily.—ns.Drear′iment,Drear′ing,Drear′ihead,Drear′ihood(Spens.), dreariness, cheerlessness;Drear′iness.—adj.Drear′isome, desolate, forlorn. [A.S.dreórig, mournful, bloody—dreór, gore.]
Dredge, drej,n.an instrument for dragging: a drag-net for catching oysters, &c.: a machine for taking up mud or zoological specimens from the bottom of the sea: a floating machine for deepening a harbour or river by gathering up mud from the bottom by means of buckets on an endless chain—alsoDredg′er,Dredg′ing-machine′.—v.t.Dredge, to gather with a dredge: to deepen with a dredge. [Conn. withdrag.]
Dredge, drej,v.t.to sprinkle flour on meat while roasting.—ns.Dredg′er,Dredge′-box,Dredg′ing-box, a utensil for dredging. [O. Fr.dragie, sugar-plum, mixed grain for horses—Gr.tragēmata, spices.]
Dree, drē,v.i.to endure, bear, esp. inDree one's weird, to abide one's destiny. [Scot.; A.S.dreōgan, suffer, perform; Prov. Eng.dree, Scot.dreich,dreigh, all meaning wearisome.]
Dregs, dregz,n.pl.impurities in liquor that fall to the bottom, the grounds: dross: the vilest part of anything.—ns.Dreg′giness,Dreg′gishness.—adj.Dreg′gy, containing dregs: muddy: foul. [Prob. Scand.; Ice.dreggjar.]
Dreich, drēh,adj.(Scot.) long, tiresome. [SeeDree.]
Drench, drensh,v.t.to fill with drink or liquid: to wet thoroughly: to soak: to physic by force: (obs.) to drown.—n.a draught: a dose of physic forced down the throat.—n.Drench′er. [A.S.drencan, to give to drink, fromdrincan, to drink; Ger.tränken, to soak. SeeDrink.]
Drent, drent (Spens.), obsoletepa.t.ofDrench.
Dress, dres,v.t.to put straight or in order, as troops: to put clothes upon: to prepare: to cook: to trim: to deck: to cleanse a sore: to manure.—v.i.to come into line: to put on clothes:—pa.t.andpa.p.dressed or drest.—n.the covering or ornament of the body: a lady's gown: style of dress.—ns.Dress′-cir′cle, part of a theatre (usually the first gallery) set apart for people in evening dress;Dress′-coat, a fine black coat with narrow or cut-away skirts, worn when in full dress;Dress′er, one who dresses: a medical student who dresses wounds: a table on which meat is dressed or prepared for use: a kind of kitchen sideboard with rows of shelves for plates, dishes, &c.—n.pl.Dress′-goods, cloths for making women's and children's gowns, frocks, &c.—ns.Dress′ing, dress or clothes: manure given to land: matter used to give stiffness and gloss to cloth: the sauce, &c., used in preparing a dish for the table, stuffing, &c.: the bandage, &c., applied to a sore: an ornamental moulding: a thrashing;Dress′ing-case, a case of toilet requisites used in dressing one's self:Dress′ing-gown, a loose garment used in dressing, or in deshabille;Dress′ing-jack′et,Dress′ing-sack, a jacket worn by women in dressing:Dress′ing-room;Dress′ing-tā′ble;Dress′maker, a person who makes gowns or dresses for women.—adj.Dress′y, fond of dress.—Evening dress,Full dress, the costume prescribed by fashion for evening receptions, dinners, balls, &c. [O. Fr.dresser, to prepare—L.dirigĕre,directum, to direct.]
Drest, drest,pa.t.andpa.p.ofDress.
Drevill, an old form ofDrivel, a slave.
Drew, drōō—did draw—pa.t.ofDraw.
Drib, drib,v.t.to cut off in small portions: to filch or steal: to lead on by degrees. [Akin toDrub.]
Dribble, drib′l,v.i.to fall in small drops: to drop quickly: to slaver, as a child or an idiot.—v.t.to let fall in drops: to give out in small portions: at football, &c., to keep the ball moving forward little by little.—v.t.Drib, to dribble, drivel.—n.a driblet.—ns.Drib′bler;Drib′let,Drib′blet, a small drop: a small quantity. [Dim. ofDrip.]
Dricksie.SeeDroxy.
Drier, drī′ėr,n.that which dries: a machine for extracting moisture from wet cloths, grain, &c.: a substance causing paint to dry more rapidly.
Drift, drift,n.a driving: a heap of matter driven together, as snow: the direction in which a thing is driven: a slow current in the sea caused by the wind: leeway: the object aimed at: the meaning of words used: (geol.) detritus, such as broken rock, sand, gravel: (mining) a horizontal excavation or passage.—v.t.to drive into heaps, as snow.—v.i.to be floated along: to be driven into heaps.—ns.Drift′age, that which is drifted: the amount of deviation from a ship's course due to leeway;Drift′-an′chor, an anchor for keeping the ship's head to the wind;Drift′-bolt, a steel bolt used to drive out other bolts;Drift′-ice, floating masses of ice drifting before the wind;Drift′land, an old tribute paid for the privilege of driving cattle through a manor.—adj.Drift′less, without drift or aim.—ns.Drift′-min′ing, gold-mining by means of drifts in the gravel and detritus of old river-beds;Drift′-net, a net kept upright in the water by floats above and weights below;Drift′-sail, a sail immersed in the water, used for lessening the drift of a vessel during a storm;Drift′-way, a road over which cattle were driven: (min.) drift;Drift′-weed, gulf-weed: tangle;Drift′-wood, wood drifted by water.—adj.Drift′y, full of or forming drifts. [SeeDrive.]
Drill, dril,v.t.to bore, pierce: to make with a drill: to exercise soldiers, pupils, &c.—to sow seeds, &c., in rows.—n.an instrument for boring stone, metal, teeth, or hard substances (not wood), actuated by a kind of bow, by a brace, or otherwise: a large boring instrument used in mining: a ridge with seed or growing plants on it (turnips, potatoes, &c.): the plants in such a row: the machine for sowing the seed in drill-husbandry.—ns.Drill′-bar′row, a grain-drill driven by hand;Drill′-har′row, a harrow for working between drills;Drill′-hus′bandry, the method of sowing seed in drills or rows;Drill′ing-machine′,Drill′ing-lathe,Drill′-press, machines for boring with a drill or drills;Drill′-mas′ter, one who teaches drill, one who trains in anything, esp. in a mechanical manner;Drill′-plough, a plough for sowing grain in drills;Drill′-ser′geant, a sergeant who drills soldiers. [Prob. borrowed from Dut.drillen, to bore;dril,drille, a borer.]
Drill, dril,n.a species of baboon found in Western Africa, resembling the mandrill, but smaller. [A contr. ofmandrill.]
Drilling, dril′ing,n.stout twilled linen or cotton cloth.—AlsoDrill. [Ger.drillich, ticking—L.trilix, three-threaded;tres, three,licium, thread.]
Drily, same asDryly. See underDry,adj.
Drink, dringk,v.t.to swallow, as a liquid: to empty, as a glass, bowl, &c.: to take in through the senses.—v.i.to swallow a liquid: to take intoxicating liquors to excess:—pr.p.drink′ing;pa.t.drank;pa.p.drunk.—n.something to be drunk: intoxicating liquor.—adj.Drink′able.—ns.Drink′ableness;Drink′er, a tippler;Drink′-hail, the customary old English reply to a pledge in drinking (wæs hail, 'health or good luck to you,' was answered withdrinc hail, 'drink good health or good luck');Drink′ing-bout;Drink′ing-fount′ain;Drink′ing-horn;Drink′-mon′ey, a gratuity, ostensibly given to buy liquor for drinking to the health of the giver;Drink′-off′ering, an offering of wine, oil, blood, &c. to God or the gods.—Drink himself drunk, to drink until he is drunk;Drink in, to absorb rain, &c., as dry land does;Drink off, to quaff wholly and at a gulp;Drink the others under the table, to continue drinking and remain (comparatively) sober after the others have completely collapsed;Drink to,Drink to the health of, to drink wine, &c., with good wishes for one's health;Drink up, to exhaust by drinking.—In drink, intoxicated.—Strong drink, alcoholic liquor. [A.S.drincan; Ger.trinken.]
(a) (b) Drip-stone.
Drip, drip,v.i.to fall in drops: to let fall drops.—v.t.to let fall in drops:—pr.p.drip′ping;pa.p.dripped.—n.a falling in drops: that which falls in drops: the edge of a root.—ns.Drip′ping, that which falls in drops, as fat from meat in roasting;Drip′ping-pan, a pan for receiving the dripping from roasting meat;Drip′-stone, a projecting moulding over doorways, &c., to throw off the rain.—Right of drip, right in law to let the drip from one's roof fall on another's land. [A.S.dryppan—dréopan.]
Drive, drīv,v.t.to force along: to hurry one on: to guide, as horses drawing a carriage: to convey or carry in a carriage: to force in, as nails with a hammer: to push briskly: to urge, as a point of argument, a bargain, &c.: to compel: to send away with force, as a ball in cricket, golf, tennis: to chase game towards sportsmen.—v.i.to press forward with violence: to be forced along, as a ship before the wind: to go in a carriage: to tend towards a point: to strike at with a sword, the fist, &c.:—pr.p.drīv′ing;pa.t.drōve;pa.p.driv′en.—n.an excursion in a carriage: a road for driving on: the propelling of a ball in cricket, &c.: the chasing of game towards the shooters, or the sport so obtained, or the ground over which the game is driven: urgent pressure: pushing the sale of a special article by reduction of prices.—ns.Driv′er, one who or that which drives, in all senses: a club used in golf to propel the ball from the teeing-ground;Driv′ing-band, the band or strap which communicates motion from one machine, or part of a machine, to another;Driv′ing-shaft, a shaft from a driving-wheel communicating motion, to machinery;Driv′ing-wheel, a main wheel that communicates motion to other wheels: one of the main wheels in a locomotive.—Drive feathers,down, to separate the lighter from the heavier by exposing them to a current of air.—Drive to one's wits' end, to perplex utterly.—Let drive, to aim a blow. [A.Sdrífan, to drive; Ger.treiben, to push.]
Drivel, driv′l,v.i.to slaver like a child: to be foolish: to speak like an idiot:—pr.p.driv′elling;pa.p.driv′elled.—n.slaver: nonsense.—n.Driv′eller, a fool. [M. E.drevelen,dravelen; related toDribble.]
Drivel, driv′l,n.(Spens.) a drudge. [Cf. Old Dut.drevel, a scullion.]
Drizzle, driz′l,v.i.to rain in small drops.—v.t.(Shak.) to shed in small drops.—n.a small, light rain.—adj.Drizz′ly. [Freq. of M. E.dresen—A.S.dreósan, to fall; Norw.drjosa, Goth.driusan.]
Droger,Drogher, drō′ger,n.a West Indian coasting vessel, with long masts and lateen sails.
Drogue, drōg,n.the drag of boards, attached to the end of a harpoon-line, checking the progress of a running whale.
Droguet,drō-gā′,n.a ribbed woollen dress fabric, a variety of rep. [Fr.]
Droich, drōh,n.a dwarf.—adj.Droich′y, dwarfish. [Gael.]
Droil, droil,v.i.to drudge. [Dut.druilen, to loiter.]
Droit, drwa,n.right; duty. [Fr.]
Droll, drōl,adj.odd: amusing: laughable.—n.one who excites mirth: a jester.—v.i.to practise drollery: to jest.—ns.Droll′ery;Droll′ing.—adjs.Droll′ish, rather droll;Droll′y. [Fr., prob. from Dut.drollig, odd—trold, a hobgoblin; cf. Ger.droll, a short thick person.]
Dromedary, drum′e-dar-i,n.a thoroughbred one-humped Arabian camel.—ns.Dromedā′rian,Drom′edarist. [Fr.,—Low L.dromedarius—Gr.dromas,dromados, running—dramein, 2 aor. infin. oftrechein, to run.]
Dromond, drom′ond,n.a swift medieval ship of war.—AlsoDrom′on. [O. Fr.,—Late L.dromo—Gr.dromon—dromos, a running,dramein, to run.]
Dromos, drom′os,n.a Greek race-course: an entrance-passage or avenue, as to a subterranean treasury, &c.—adjs.Drom′ic,-al, pertaining to a race-course: basilican. [Gr.,—dramein, to run.]
Drone, drōn,n.the male of the honey-bee: one who lives on the labour of others, like the drone-bee: a lazy, idle fellow.—adj.Dron′ish, like a drone: lazy, idle.—adv.Dron′ishly.—n.Dron′ishness.—adv.Dron′y. [A.S.drán, the bee; Dan.drone.]
Drone, drōn,v.i.to make a low humming sound.—n.the bass-pipe of a bagpipe.—n.Drone′-pipe, a pipe producing a droning sound. [M. E.drounen, to roar; not found in A.S. Cf. Dut.dreunen, Ger.dröhnen.]
Drool, drool,v.i.to slaver—a form ofDrivel.
Droop, drōōp,v.i.to sink or hang down: to grow weak or faint: to decline.—v.t.to let sink.—n.a drooping position.—adv.Droop′ingly, in a drooping manner. [Ice.drúpa, to droop. SeeDrop.]
Drop, drop,n.a small particle of liquid which falls at one time: a very small quantity of liquid: anything hanging like a drop: a fall: a trap in the gallows scaffold, the fall of which allows the criminal to drop: a device for lowering goods into a ship's hold.—v.i.to fall in small particles: to let drops fall: to fall suddenly: to come to an end: to fall or sink lower.—v.t.to let fall in drops: to let fall: to let go, dismiss, break off, as an acquaintance: to utter casually: to write and send (a note) in an off-hand manner: to set down from a carriage:—pr.p.drop′ping;pa.p.dropped.—ns.Drop′-drill, an apparatus for dropping seed and manure into the soil simultaneously;Drop′-hamm′er,Drop′-press, a swaging, stamping, or forging machine having either a regular or intermittent motion;Drop′let, a little drop;Drop′-lett′er(U.S.), a letter posted in any place merely for local delivery;Drop′-net, a net suspended from a boom, to be suddenly dropped on a passing shoal of fish;Drop′ping, that which is dropped: (pl.) dung, esp. of fowls.—adj.Drop′-ripe, so ripe as to be ready to drop from the tree.—ns.Drop′-Scene, a painted curtain suspended by pulleys, which drops in front of the stage in a theatre;Drop′-stone, a stalactic variety of calcite.—adv.Drop′-wise(Tenn.), by drops.—n.Drop′-wort, theSpiræa Filipendula.—Drop astern(naut.), to pass or move towards the stern;Drop away,off, to depart, disappear;Drop down, to sail, move, or row down a coast, or down a river to the sea;Drop in, to come in casually;Drop out, to disappear from one's place;Drop serene, an old medical name foramaurosis, literally translated from L.gutta serena.—A dropping fire, a continuous irregular discharge of small-arms.—Prince Rupert's drops, drops of glass which have fallen in a melted state into cold water, and have assumed a tadpole-like shape, the whole falling to dust with a loud report if the point of the tail be nipped off. [A.S.dropa, a drop—dreópan, to drop; Dut.drop, Ger.tropfe.]
Dropsy, drop′si,n.an unnatural collection of water in any part of the body.—adjs.Drop′sical,Drop′sied(Shak.), affected with dropsy.—n.Drop′sicalness. [Through Fr. from L.hydropisis—Gr.hydrōps—hydōr, water.]
Drosera, dros′er-a,n.a genus of small herbaceous plants of the orderDroseraceæ, generally inhabiting marshy places. [Formed from Gr.droseros—drosos, dew.]
Droshky, drosh′ki,Drosky,dros′ki,n.a low four-wheeled open carriage much used in Russia. [Russ.drozhki.]
Drosometer, drō-som′e-ter,n.an instrument for measuring the quantity of dew condensed on the surface of a body left in the open air. [Gr.drosos, dew,metron, measure.]
Dross, dros,n.the scum which metals throw off when melting: waste matter: refuse: rust.—n.Dross′iness.—adj.Dross′y, like dross: impure: worthless. [A.S.drós, fromdreósan, to fall; cf. Dut.droesem; Ger.druse.]
Drought, drowt,Drouth, drowth,n.dryness: want of rain or of water: thirst.—ns.Drought′iness,Drouth′iness.—adjs.Drought′y,Drouth′y, full of drought: very dry: wanting rain, thirsty. [A.S.drúgathe, dryness—drúgian, to dry.]
Drouk,Drook, drōōk,v.t.to drench: (Scot.) to duck.—p.adjs.Drouk′it,Drook′it. [Ice.drukna, to be drowned; cf. Dan.drukne.]
Drove, drōv,pa.t.ofDrive.—n.a number of cattle, or other animals, driven.—n.Drov′er, one whose occupation is to drive cattle: (Spens.) a boat. [A.S.dráf—drífan, to drive.]
Drow, drow,n.a kind of elves supposed to belong to Shetland, inhabiting caves—alsoTrow, a variant oftroll.
Drow, drow,n.(Scot.) a drizzling mist.
Drown, drown,v.t.to drench or sink in water: to kill by placing under water: to overpower: to extinguish.—v.t.to be suffocated in water. [A.S.druncnian, to drown—druncen, pa.p. ofdrincan, to drink. SeeDrench.]
Drowse, drowz,v.i.to be heavy with sleep: to look heavy and dull.—v.t.to make heavy with sleep: to stupefy.—n.a half-sleeping state.—ns.Drows′ihead,Drows′ihed(Spens.), drowsiness, sleepiness.—adv.Drows′ily.—n.Drows′iness.—adj.Drows′y, sleepy: heavy: dull: inducing sleep. [A.S.drúsian, to be sluggish; Dut.dreósen, to fall asleep.]
Drub, drub,v.t.to beat or thrash:—pr.p.drub′bing;pa.p.drubbed.—n.Drub′bing, a cudgelling. [Murray suggests Ar.daraba, to beat, bastinado,darb, a beating.]
Drudge, druj,v.i.to work hard: to do very mean work.—n.one who works hard: a slave: a menial servant.—ns.Drudg′er;Drudg′ery,Drudg′ism, the work of a drudge: uninteresting toil: hard or humble labour.—adv.Drudg′ingly. [Ety. unknown. Some suggest Celt., as in Ir.drugaire, a drudge.]
Drug, drug,n.any substance used in the composition of medicine: an article that cannot be sold, generally owing to overproduction.—v.t.to mix or season with drugs: to dose to excess.—v.i.to prescribe drugs or medicines:—pr.p.drug′ging;pa.p.drugged.—n.Drug′gist, one who deals in drugs. [O. Fr.drogue, prob. from Dut.droog, dry; as if applied orig. to dried herbs.]
Drug, drug,n.(Shak.) a drudge.
Drugget, drug′et,n.a woven and felted coarse woollen fabric, chiefly used for covering carpets—hence called in some parts of Britaincrumbcloth. [O. Fr.droguet, dim. ofdrogue, a drug, trash. See above.]
Druid, drōō′id,n.a priest among the ancient Celts of Britain, Gaul, and Germany, who worshipped under oak-trees: a member of a benefit society (founded 1781), its lodges calledgroves:—fem.Dru′idess.—adjs.Druid′ic,-al,Dru′idish.—n.Dru′idism, the doctrines which the Druids taught: the ceremonies they practised. [L. pl.druidæ—Celt.druid—whence Old Ir.drai, Ir. and Gael.draoi, magician. Littré accepts the ety. from Celt.derw, an oak, which is from the same root as Gr.drys, an oak.]
Drum, drum,n.an instrument of percussion, in which a skin of parchment, stretched on a frame of wood or metal, is beaten with an instrument called a drumstick: anything shaped like a drum: the tympanum or middle portion of the ear: (archit.) the upright part of a cupola: (mech.) a revolving cylinder: formerly a large and tumultuous evening party (said to be so called because rival hostesses vied with each other in beating up crowds of guests).—v.i.to beat a drum: to beat with the fingers.—v.t.to drum out, to expel: to summon:—pr.p.drum′ming;pa.p.drummed.—ns.Drum′head, the head of a drum (seeCourt-martial): the top part of a capstan;Drum′-mā′jor, the chief drummer of a regiment (now calledsergeant-drummer);Drum′mer, one who drums: (U.S.) a commercial traveller;Drum′stick, the stick with which the drum is beat: the leg of a cooked fowl. [From a Teut. root found in Dut.trom, Ger.trommel, a drum; prob. imit.]
Drum, drum,n.a small hill or ridge of hills, used in many place-names, asDrumglass,Drumsheugh, &c. [Ir.druim, the back.]
Drumble, drum′bl,v.i.(Shak.) to be sluggish.
Drumly, drum′li,adj.(Scot.) muddy: gloomy.
Drummock, drum′ok. Same asDrammock(q.v.).
Drummond-light, drum′ond-līt,n.the lime-light or oxy-hydrogen light invented by Captain T.Drummond(1797-1840). [SeeLime-light.]
Drunk, drungk,pa.p.ofDrink.—p.adj.intoxicated: saturated.—n.a drunken bout: a drunk person.—n.Drunk′ard, one who frequently drinks to excess: a habitual drinker.—p.adj.Drunk′en, given to excessive drinking: worthless, besotted: resulting from intoxication.—adv.Drunk′enly.—n.Drunk′enness, excessive drinking: habitual intemperance.
Drupe, drōōp,n.a fleshy fruit containing a stone, as the plum, &c.—adj.Drupā′ceous, producing or pertaining to drupes or stone-fruits.—n.Drup′el, a little drupe. [L.drupa—Gr.dryppa, an over-ripe olive—drypepēs, ripened on the tree, fromdrys, a tree, andpeptein, to cook; cf.drupetēs—drys, andpiptein, to fall.]
Druse, drōōs,n.(mining) a rock cavity lined with crystals, a geode orvug. [Ger.]
Druse, drōōs,n.one of a remarkable people inhabiting a mountainous district in the north of Syria, with a peculiar religion interwoven from the Bible and the Koran.—adj.Drus′ian.
Druxy, druk′si,adj.of timber, having decayed spots concealed by healthy wood.—AlsoDrick′sie.
Dry, drī,adj.free from, deficient in, moisture, sap: not green: not giving milk: thirsty: uninteresting: (obs.) hard: frigid, precise: free from sweetness and fruity flavour (of wines, &c.).—v.t.to free from water or moisture: to exhaust.—v.i.to become dry, to evaporate entirely—both used also with prep.up:—pr.p.dry′ing;pa.p.dried.—n.andadj.Dry′asdust, the pretended editor or introducer of some of Scott's novels—a synonym for a dull and pedantic though learned person.—v.t.Dry′-beat(Shak.), to beat severely, or so as to be dry.—ns.Dry′-bob, a slang name used at Eton for boys who play cricket, football, &c.—opp. to theWet-bob, who makes rowing his recreation;Dry′-dock(seeDock).—adj.Dry′-eyed, tearless.—n.Dry′-foot(Shak.), like a dog which pursues game by the scent of its foot.—n.pl.Dry′-goods, drapery, &c., as distinguished from groceries, hardware, &c.—n.Dry′-light, a clear, unobstructed light: an unprejudiced view.—advs.Dry′ly,Drī′ly.—ns.Dry′-meas′ure(seeMeasure);Dry′ness;Dry′-nurse, a nurse who feeds a child without milk from the breast;Dry′-plate, a sensitised photographic plate, with which a picture may be made without the preliminary use of a bath;Dry′-point, a sharp needle by which fine lines are drawn in copperplate engraving;Dry′-rot, a decay of timber caused by fungi which reduce it to a dry, brittle mass: (fig.) a concealed decay or degeneration.—v.t.Dry′-salt, to cure meat by salting and drying.—ns.Dry′salter, a dealer in gums, dyes, drugs, &c.: (obs.) or in salted or dry meats, pickles, &c.;Dry′saltery.—adj.Dry′-shod, without wetting the shoes or feet.—n.Dry′-steam, steam containing no unevaporated water.—adj.Dry′-stone, built of stone without mortar, as some walls.—n.Dry′-stove, a kind of hot-house for preserving the plants of dry, warm climates.—Cut and dried(seeCut).—High and dry(seeHigh). [A.S.dr['y]ge; cf. Dut.droog, Ger.trocken.]
Dryad, drī′ad,n.(Greek myth.) a nymph of the woods: a forest-tree. [Gr.dryas, fromdrys, a tree.]
Dual, dū′al,adj.consisting of two.—ns.Dū′ad, a pair of objects looked at as one;Dū′al-control′, any joint control or jurisdiction, as of England and France in Egypt;Dū′alism(philos.), that view which seeks to explain the world by the assumption of two radically independent and absolute elements—e.g. (1) the doctrine of the entire separation of spirit and matter, thus being opposed both toidealismand tomaterialism; (2) the doctrine of two distinct principles of good and of evil, or of two distinct divine beings of these characters;Dū′alist, a believer in dualism.—adj.Dualis′tic, consisting of two: relating to dualism.—ns.Dual′ity, doubleness: state of being double;Dū′al-school, a school for both boys and girls;Dū′archy, government by two. [L.,—duo, two.]
Dualin, dū-al′in,n.an explosive compound of sawdust, saltpetre, and nitro-glycerine.
Duan, dū′an,n.a division of a poem, canto. [Gael.]
Dub, dub,v.t.to confer knighthood, from the ceremony of striking the shoulder with the flat of a sword: to confer any name or dignity: to smooth with an adze: to rub a softening and waterproof mixture into, as leather: to dress a fly for fishing:—pr.p.dub′bing;pa.p.dubbed.—n.Dub′bing, the accolade: a preparation of grease for softening leather—alsoDub′bin. [Conn. with O. Fr.a-douber, to equip with arms; but O. Fr.dobermay be Teut.]
Dub, dub,n.(Scot.) a pool of foul water: a puddle.
Dubious, dū′bi-us,adj.doubtful: undetermined: causing doubt: of uncertain event or issue.—adv.Dū′biously.—ns.Dū′biousness,Dubī′ety,Dubios′ity, doubtfulness. [L.dubius.]
Dubitate, dū′bi-tāt,v.i.to doubt, hesitate.—adj.Dū′bitable.—ns.Dū′bitancy,Dubitā′tion.—adj.Dū′bitative.—adv.Dū′bitatively. [L.dubitiāre,-ātum.]
Ducal, dū′kal,adj.pertaining to a duke.—adv.Dū′cally.
Ducat, duk′at,n.a gold coin, formerly much used on the Continent, its commonest value being about 9s. 4d., though there were silver ducats in Italy worth 3s. 4d.—n.Ducatoon′, an old silver coin in Venice and elsewhere, worth 5 to 6 shillings. [O. Fr.ducat—It.ducato—ducatus, a duchy. The name was applied to an Apulian silver coin of 1140. The first gold ducat struck at Venice in 1284 bore the legend—'Sit tibi Christe datus quem tu regis isteDucatus' ('Be this duchy, which thou rulest, dedicated to thee, O Christ'), which may have helped to spread the name, though it did not originate it.]
Duchy, duch′i,n.the territory of a duke, a dukedom.—ns.Duch′ess, the consort or widow of a duke;Duch′y-court, the court of a duchy, esp. that of the duchy of Lancaster.
Duck, duk,n.a kind of coarse cloth for small sails, sacking, &c. [Dut.doeck, linen cloth; Ger.tuch.]
Duck, duk,v.t.to dip for a moment in water.—v.i.to dip or dive: to lower the head suddenly: to cringe, yield.—n.a quick plunge, dip: a quick lowering of the head or body, a jerky bow.—ns.Duck′er, one who ducks: a diving-bird;Duck′ing;Duck′ing-pond;Duck′ing-stool, a stool or chair in which scolds were formerly tied and ducked in the water as a punishment. [A.S.dúcan, to duck, dive; Ger.tauchen, Dut.duiken.]
Duck, duk,n.name given to any member of the familyAnatidæ, the prominent marks of which are short webbed feet, with a small hind-toe not reaching the ground, the netted scales in front of the lower leg, and the long bill: the female duck as distinguished from the maledrake: in cricket (originallyduck's egg), the zero (0), which records in a scoring-sheet that a player has made no runs: (coll.) a darling, sweetheart: a financial defaulter—esp.Lame Duck: also of things.—ns.Duck′-ant, a Jamaican termite nesting in trees;Duck′-bill, an aquatic burrowing and egg-laying Australian mammal, about 18 inches long, with soft fur, broadly webbed feet, and depressed duck-like bill—also calledDuck-mole,Platypus, andOrnithorhynchus.—adj.Duck′-billed, having a bill like a duck.—n.Duck′-hawk, the moor-buzzard or marsh-harrier: the peregrine falcon of the United States.—adj.Duck′-legged, short-legged.—ns.Duck′ling, a young duck;Duck's′-foot, the lady's mantle;Duck′-weed, a name for several species ofLemnaandWolffiagrowing in ditches;Bombay duck, bummals;Wild′-duck, the mallard.—Break one's duck(cricket), to make one's first run (see above);Make,Play,ducks and drakes, to use recklessly: squander, waste (withwith,of)—from the skipping of a flat stone across the surface of water. [A.S.duce, a duck, from,dúcan, to duck, dive.]
Duct, dukt,n.a tube conveying fluids in animal bodies or plants. [L.ductus—ducĕre, to lead.]
Ductile, duk′til,adj.easily led: yielding: capable of being drawn out into threads.—ns.Ductilim′eter, an instrument for measuring the ductility of metals;Ductil′ity, capacity of being drawn out without breaking. [Fr.,—L.ductilis—ducĕre, to lead.]
Dud, dud,n.(coll.) inpl.poor or ragged clothes, tatters.—n.Dud′dery, a shop where old clothes are sold, rags collectively.—adj.Dud′dy, ragged. [There is a M. E.dudd, birrus, a cloak, which may be Celt.]
Dudder, dud′er,n.(prov.) confusion.
Dude, dūd,n.(slang) a fop or dandy, esp. remarkable for the exquisite make and quality of his clothes.—adj.Dū′dish.—n.Dū′dism. [Hardly fromdud.]