_dober_ may be Teut.]
DUB, dub, _n._ (_Scot._) a pool of foul water: a puddle.
DUBIOUS, d[=u]'bi-us, _adj._ doubtful: undetermined: causing doubt: of uncertain event or issue.--_adv._ D[=U]'BIOUSLY.--_ns._ D[=U]'BIOUSNESS, DUB[=I]'ETY, DUBIOS'ITY, doubtfulness. [L. _dubius_.]
DUBITATE, d[=u]'bi-t[=a]t, _v.i._ to doubt, hesitate.--_adj._ D[=U]'BITABLE.--_ns._ D[=U]'BITANCY, DUBIT[=A]'TION.--_adj._ D[=U]'BITATIVE.--_adv._ D[=U]'BITATIVELY. [L. _dubiti[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_.]
DUCAL, d[=u]'kal, _adj._ pertaining to a duke.--_adv._ D[=U]'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 iste _Ducatus_' ('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. _ducan_, to duck, dive; Ger. _tauchen_, Dut. _duiken_.]
DUCK, duk, _n._ name given to any member of the family _Anatidae_, 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 male _drake_: in cricket (originally _duck'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 called _Duck-mole_, _Platypus_, and _Ornithorhynchus_.--_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 of _Lemna_ and _Wolffia_ growing 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 (with _with_, _of_)--from the skipping of a flat stone across the surface of water. [A.S. _duce_, a duck, from, _ducan_, to duck, dive.]
DUCT, dukt, _n._ a tube conveying fluids in animal bodies or plants. [L.
_ductus_--_duc[)e]re_, 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_--_duc[)e]re_, to lead.]
DUD, dud, _n._ (_coll._) in _pl._ 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, d[=u]d, _n._ (_slang_) a fop or dandy, esp. remarkable for the exquisite make and quality of his clothes.--_adj._ D[=U]'DISH.--_n._ D[=U]'DISM. [Hardly from _dud_.]
DUDEEN, d[=u]-d[=e]n', _n._ a short clay tobacco-pipe.
DUDGEON, duj'un, _n._ resentment: grudge. [There is an Anglo-Fr. _digeon_, wood hafts of knives, &c., but a connection cannot be stated. Skeat suggests dubiously W. _dygen_, malice, _dychan_, a jeer.]
DUDGEON, duj'un, _n._ the haft of a dagger: a small dagger. [See above.]
DUE, d[=u], _adj._ owed: that ought to be paid or done to another: proper: appointed, under engagement to be ready, arrive, &c.--_adv._ exactly: directly.--_n._ that which is owed: what one has a right to: perquisite: fee or tribute.--_adj._ DUE'FUL (_Spens._), proper, fit.--GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE, to give a fair hearing or fair-play to one of notorious character.
[O. Fr. _deu_, pa.p. of _devoir_--L. _deb[=e]re_, to owe.]
DUE, d[=u], _v.t._ (_Shak._) to endue.
DUEL, d[=u]'el, _n._ a combat between two persons, prearranged, and fought under fixed conditions, generally on an affair of honour--happily harmless in France: any fight or struggle between two parties: single combat to decide a quarrel.--_v.i._ to fight in a duel:--_pr.p._ d[=u]'elling; _pa.p._ d[=u]'elled.--_ns._ D[=U]'ELLER, D[=U]'ELLIST; D[=U]'ELLING, fighting in a duel: the practice of fighting in single combat; DUELL'O, a duel: the laws which regulate duelling.--_adj._ D[=U]'ELSOME, given to duelling. [It. _duello_--L. _duellum_, the original form of _bellum_--_duo_, two.]
DUENNA, d[=u]-en'a, _n._ an old lady who acts the part of governess in Spain: an old lady who acts as guardian to a younger. [Sp. _duena_, a form of _dona_, mistress--L. _domina_, fem. of _dominus_, lord.]
DUET, d[=u]-et', DUETTO, d[=u]-et'o, _n._ a composition in music for two voices, instruments, or instrumentalists.--_ns._ DUETTI'NO, a simple duet; DUET'TIST. [It. _duetto_, _due_, two--L. _duo_, two.]
DUFF, duf, _n._ dough: a stiff flour pudding boiled in a bag; decaying vegetable matter, fallen leaves: coaldust. [From _dough_.]
DUFF, duf, _v.t._ to manipulate an article so as to make it look like new: to alter the brands on stolen cattle.
DUFFEL, duf'l, _n._ a thick, coarse woollen cloth, with a thick nap--also DUFF'LE: (_U.S._) change of flannels. [Dut., from _Duffel_, a town near Antwerp.]
DUFFER, duf'[.e]r, _n._ a dull plodding person: a fogy, useless old fellow: a counterfeit coin: a claim or mine which proves unproductive.--_ns._ DUFF'ERDOM, DUFF'ERISM.
DUFFER, duf'[.e]r, _n._ a peddler of dubious goods, sham jewellery, &c.: one who fakes up sham articles, or duffs cattle.
DUG, dug, _n._ the nipple of the pap, esp. applied to that of a cow or other beast. [Cf. Sw. _daegga_, Dan. _daegge_, to suckle a child. See DAIRY.]
DUG, dug, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of DIG.--_n._ DUG'OUT, a boat made by hollowing out the trunk of a tree.
DUGONG, d[=u]-gong', _n._ a kind of herb-eating whale, from 8 to 20 feet long, found in Indian seas--the supposed original of the mermaid. [Malayan _d[=u]yong_.]
DUIKER, DUYKER, d[=i]'k[.e]r, _n._ a small South African antelope. [Dut.]
[Illustration]
DUKE, d[=u]k, _n._ the highest order of nobility next below that of _prince_: (_B._) a chieftain: on the Continent, a sovereign prince.--_ns._ DUKE'DOM, the title, rank, or territories of a duke; DUKE'LING, a petty duke; DUK'ERY, a duke's territory or seat; DUKE'SHIP.--THE DUKERIES, a group of ducal seats in Nottinghamshire. [O. Fr. _duc_--L. _dux_, _ducis_, a leader--_duc[)e]re_, to lead.]
DULCAMARA, dul-ka-m[=a]'ra, _n._ a name for the Bittersweet (q.v.). [Formed from L. _dulcis_, sweet, _amara_, bitter.]
DULCET, duls'et, _adj._ sweet to the taste, or to the ear: melodious, harmonious.--_n._ DULCIFIC[=A]'TION.--_adj._ DULCIF'LUOUS, flowing sweetly.--_v.t._ DUL'CIFY, to make sweet.--_ns._ DULCIL'OQUY, a soft manner of speaking; DUL'CITE, DUL'CITOL, DUL'COSE, a saccharine substance derived from various plants--in its crude form, _Madagascar manna_; DUL'CITUDE, sweetness.--DULCIFIED SPIRIT, a compound of alcohol with mineral acid. [O.
Fr. _doucet_, dim. of _dols_ (Fr. _doux_)--L. _dulcis_, sweet.]
DULCIMER, dul'si-m[.e]r, _n._ a musical instrument resembling a flat box, with sounding-board and bridges, across which run wires tuned by pegs at the sides, and played on by striking the wires with a small piece of wood in each hand, or more usually with two cork-headed hammers: a Jewish musical instrument, according to Gesenius, a double pipe with a bag. [Sp.
_dulcemele_--L. _dulce melos_, a sweet song--_dulcis_, sweet; _melos_ = Gr.
_melos_, a song.]
DULCINEA, dul-sin'[=e]-a, or dul-sin-[=e]'a, _n._ sweetheart. [From _Dulcinea_ del Toboso, the name given by Don Quixote to the mistress of his imagination.]
DULE, dool, _n._ (_Scot._) woe.--_n._ DULE'-TREE, the gallows. [See DOLE.]
DULIA, d[=u]-l[=i]'a, _n._ (_R.C. Church_) that inferior veneration due to saints and angels.--_n._ DULOC'RACY, government by slaves. [Gr.
_douleia_--_doulos_, a slave.]
DULL, dul, _adj._ slow of hearing, of learning, or of understanding: insensible: without life or spirit: slow of motion: drowsy: sleepy: sad: downcast: cheerless: not bright or clear: cloudy: dim, obscure: obtuse: blunt.--_v.t._ to make dull or stupid: to blunt: to damp: to cloud.--_v.i._ to become dull.--_n._ DULL'ARD, a dull and stupid person: a dunce.--_adjs._ DULL'-BRAINED (_Shak._), of dull brain or intellect: stupid; DULL'-BROWED, of gloomy brow or look; DULL'-EYED (_Shak._), having eyes dull or wanting expression; DULL'ISH, somewhat dull: wearisome.--_ns._ DULL'NESS, DUL'NESS, the stale or quality of being dull.--_adjs._ DULL'-SIGHT'ED; DULL'-WIT'TED; DULL'Y, somewhat dull.--_adv._ DULL'Y. [A.S. _dol_--_dwelan_, to err; Dut.
_dol_, Ger. _toll_, mad.]
DULSE, duls, _n._ an edible seaweed, with red, deeply-divided fronds, eaten in Ireland and elsewhere. [Gael, _duileasg_--_duille_, a leaf, _uisge_, water.]
DULY, d[=u]'li, _adv._ properly: fitly: at the proper time. [See DUE.]
DUMB, dum, _adj._ without the power of speech: silent: soundless.--_v.t._ (_Shak._) to render dumb.--_n.pl._ DUMB'-BELLS, double-headed weights swung in the hands for the purpose of developing the arms, muscles of the chest, &c.--_n._ DUMB'-CANE, a plant of the order _Araceae_, aberrant in its almost arborescent character, but agreeing with them in its acridity, which is in none of them more highly developed.--_adv._ DUMB'LY, in silence: mutely.--_ns._ DUMB'NESS; DUMB'-SHOW, gesture without words: pantomime; DUMB'-WAIT'ER, a movable platform used for conveying food, dishes, &c. at meals: a stand with revolving top for holding dessert, &c.--_vs.t._ DUMFOUND', -ER, to strike dumb: to confuse greatly: to astonish.--_ns._ DUM'MERER, a dumb person, esp. a rogue who feigns dumbness; DUM'MINESS; DUM'MY, one who is dumb: a mere tool of another, man of straw: a sham package in a shop: the fourth or exposed band when three persons play at whist.--STRIKE DUMB, to silence with astonishment. [A.S. _dumb_; Ger.
_dumm_, stupid, Dut. _dom_.]
DUMBLEDORE, dum'bl-d[=o]r, _n._ (_prov._) the bumble-bee: the brown cockchafer.