Dotter, subs. (common).—A reporter; penny-a-liner. Cf., Dots, sense 1.
Dottle, subs. (common).—The same as Dodder (q.v.).
1885. John Coleman, in Longm. Mag., VII., 69. During the
performance of ‘It’s Never Too Late to Mend,’ some gentleman of the
proletariat, in knocking out the burning dottle of his pipe,
succeeded in setting the gallery on fire.
Dotty, adj. and adv. (common).—1. Feeble; dizzy; idiotic; e.g., dotty
in the crumpet = weak in the head; dotty in the pins = unsteady on the
legs. [Totty is given in Cole’s Eng. Dict. (1724) = dizzy, but cf.,
dotish and dotage.] For synonyms, see Apartments, Balmy, and Cf.,
Cabbage-head.
1870. Sportsman, 9 April. Although he begins to go a little stiff
in his limbs and dotty on his feet he enjoys good health.
1884. Daily Telegraph, 9 April, p. 2, col. 6. His bad leg grows
worse ... and, as usual, he [a race-horse] pulled up in a dotty
condition.
1889. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 3 Aug., p. 242, col. 3. As poor
Doody on his knees had dropt In front of lovely Tottie, And the
fatal question just had pop’t. He really look’d quite dotty.
Subs. (common).—The fancy man of prostitutes of the lowest type.
Doubite, subs. (old).—A street.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.
Double, subs. (colloquial).—1. A trick.
2. (theatrical).—An actor playing two parts in the same piece; used
also as a verb.
1825. Egan, Life of an Actor, ‘The Country Manager.’ I make no
reserve for myself, like all other managers; indeed, I am to double
any character, and only anxious to make the most of every little
bit.