DARWINISM, där'win-ism, _n._ the theory of the origin of species propounded
by C. _Darwin_ (1809-82).--_adjs._ DARWIN'IAN, DARWIN'ICAL.
DASH, dash, _v.t._ to throw violently: to break by throwing together: to
throw water suddenly: to bespatter: to destroy or frustrate: to mix or
adulterate.--_v.i._ to strike against: to break against, as water: to rush
with violence.--_n._ a violent striking: a rushing or violent onset: a
blow: a mark (--) at a break in a sentence: ostentation: a slight
admixture.--_ns._ DASH'-BOARD, a board or leathern frame in front of a
carriage, to keep off splashes of mud; DASH'ER, one who dashes: (_coll._)
one who makes a great show.--_adj._ DASH'ING, rushing: reckless: hasty and
rash: gallant.--_adv._ DASH'INGLY.--_ns._ DASH'-POT, a device for
preventing too sudden motion in some part of an apparatus; DASH'-WHEEL, a
wheel-shaped box with compartments, in which cotton cloth is washed by the
revolution of the wheel in liquid.--DASH OFF, to sketch hastily; DASH OUT,
to knock out by striking against something. [M. E. _daschen_, _dassen_, to
rush, or strike with violence--Scand.; cf. Dan. _daske_, to slap].
DASTARD, das'tard, _n._ a cowardly fellow.--_adj._ shrinking from danger:
cowardly.--_adj._ and _adv._ DAS'TARDLY.--_ns._ DAS'TARDNESS,
DAS'TARDLINESS, DAS'TARDY. [From a Scand. stem _dast_ = Eng. _dazed_, and
Fr. suffix _-ard_. See DAZE.]
DASYMETER, da-sim'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for testing the density of
gases. [Gr. _dasys_, thick, _metron_, measure.]
DASYPUS, das'i-pus, _n._ a genus of armadillos.
DASYURE, das'i-y[=oo]r, _n._ a small carnivorous quadruped of Australia and
Tasmania. [Formed from Gr. _dasys_, hairy, _oura_, tail.]
DATA, d[=a]'ta, _n.pl._ facts given or admitted from which other facts may
be deduced:--_sing._ D[=A]'TUM. [L. _datum_, _data_, given--_d[)a]re_, to
give.]
DATARY, d[=a]'ta-ri, _n._ an officer in the papal chancery, who dates and
despatches documents, grants, &c.--_n._ DAT[=A]'RIA, the office of such.
[Low L. _datarius_--L. _datum_--_d[)a]re_, to give.]
DATE, d[=a]t, _n._ the time of any event: a stipulated time: age, period of
time.--_v.t._ to affix the date to.--_v.t._ to reckon: to begin.--_adj._
DATE'LESS, without date: without fixed limit: undatable.--OUT OF DATE,
antiquated; UP TO DATE, adapted or corrected to the present time: modern.
[O. Fr. _date_--L. _datum_, as in _datum Romæ_ = given or written at Rome.]
DATE, d[=a]t, _n._ the fruit of the date-palm.--_ns._ DATE'-PALM,
DATE'-TREE, the tree on which it grows, a native of the northern half of
Africa and the south-west of Asia; DATE'-PLUM; DATE'-SUG'AR. [Fr.
_datte_--L. _dactylus_--Gr. _daktylos_, a finger.]
DATIVE, d[=a]t'iv, _adj._ that is given or appointed.--_n._ the dative
case, the oblique case of nouns, &c.--generally indicated in English by
_to_ or _for_. [L. _dativus_.]
DATOLITE, dat'[=o]-l[=i]t, _n._ a vitreous calcium borosilicate.
DATUM, d[=a]'tum (see DATA).--_n._ D[=A]'TUM-LINE, the horizontal base-line
from which heights and depths are measured.
DATURA, d[=a]-t[=u]'ra, _n._ a genus of plants, of which one, _D.
stramonium_, or thorn-apple, has strongly narcotic properties.--_n._
DAT'URINE, a poisonous alkaloid in the foregoing. [Hind. _dhat[=u]r[=a]_.]
DAUB, dawb, _v.t._ to smear: to paint coarsely.--_n._ a coarse
painting.--_ns._ DAUB'ER, one who daubs: a coarse painter; DAUB'ERY,
DAUB'RY (_Shak._), a daubing, or crudely artful device; DAUB'ING.--_adj._
DAUB'Y, sticky. [O. Fr. _dauber_, to plaster--L. _dealb[=a]re_, to
whitewash--_de_, down, and _albus_, white.]
DAUD, daud, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to knock, thump.--_n._ a lump: large
piece.--Also DAWD.
DAUGHTER, daw't[.e]r, _n._ a female child: a female descendant: woman
(generally).--_ns._ DAUGH'TER-IN-LAW, a son's wife; DAUGH'TERLINESS;
DAUGH'TERLING, a little daughter.--_adj._ DAUGH'TERLY, like or becoming a
daughter. [A.S. _dohtor_; Scot. _dochter_, Ger. _tochter_, Gr.
_thygat[=e]r_.]
DAUNDER, DAUNER. Same as DANDER.
DAUNT, dänt, or dawnt, _v.t._ to frighten: to discourage: to
subdue.--_adj._ DAUNT'LESS, not to be daunted.--_adv._ DAUNT'LESSLY.--_n._
DAUNT'LESSNESS.--_v.t._ DAUN'TON, to subdue: to dare. [O. Fr. _danter_ (Fr.
_dompter_)--L. _domit[=a]re_--_dom[=a]re_, to tame.]
DAUPHIN, daw'fin, _n._ the name given to the eldest son of the king of
France, from 1349 down to 1830:--_fem._ DAU'PHINESS. [O. Fr. _daulphin_
(Fr. _dauphin_)--L. _delphinus_, a dolphin. From the dolphins in the crest
of Viennois.]
DAUR, dawr, a Scotch form of _dare_.
DAUTIE. See DAWTIE.
DAUW, daw, _n._ the South African name of Burchell's zebra.
DAVENPORT, d[=a]'ven-port, _n._ a small ornamental writing-desk. [From the
maker.]
DAVENPORT-TRICK, d[=a]'ven-port-trik, _n._ the artifice by which a man can
free himself from ropes wound round him and tied.
[Illustration]
DAVIT, d[=a]v'it, _n._ one of a pair of pieces of timber or iron,
projecting over a ship's side or stern, having tackle to raise a boat by.
[Cf. Fr. _davier_, a forceps.]
DAVY, d[=a]'vi, DAVY-LAMP, d[=a]'vi-lamp, _n._ the safety-lamp for
coal-miners of Sir Humphry _Davy_ (1778-1829).
DAVY JONES, d[=a]'vi j[=o]nz, _n._ a sailor's familiar name for the
(malignant) spirit of the sea, the devil; hence DAVY JONES'S LOCKER, of the
sea, as the grave of men drowned at sea. [Said by some to be a compound of
_Duffy_, a West Indian spirit name, and _Jonah_.]
DAW, daw, _v.i._ an old English form of _dawn_.
DAW, daw, _n._ a bird of the crow kind: a jackdaw.--_adj._ DAW'ISH. [From
its cry.]
DAWDLE, daw'dl, _v.i._ to waste time by trifling: to act or move
slowly.--_n._ DAW'DLER. [Allied to _dandle_ and _dandy_.]
DAWK. See DAK.
DAWN, dawn, _v.i._ to become day: to begin to grow light: to begin to
appear.--_n._ daybreak: beginning.--Also DAWN'ING. [A.S. _dagian_, to dawn,
_dæg_, day.]