DROLL, dr[=o]l, _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._ DROMED[=A]'RIAN, DROM'EDARIST. [Fr.,--Low L.
_dromedarius_--Gr. _dromas_, _dromados_, running--_dramein_, 2 aor. infin.
of _trechein_, to run.]
DROMOND, drom'ond, _n._ a swift medieval ship of war.--Also DROM'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, dr[=o]n, _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, dr[=o]n, _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 of DRIVEL.
DROOP, dr[=oo]p, _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. See DROP.]
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, the
_Spiræa 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
for _amaurosis_, 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.
_hydr[=o]ps_--_hyd[=o]r_, water.]
DROSERA, dros'er-a, _n._ a genus of small herbaceous plants of the order
_Droseraceæ_, 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, dr[=o]-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_, from _dreósan_, 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, dr[=oo]k, _v.t._ to drench: (_Scot._) to duck.--_p.adjs._
DROUK'IT, DROOK'IT. [Ice. _drukna_, to be drowned; cf. Dan. _drukne_.]
DROVE, dr[=o]v, _pa.t._ of DRIVE.--_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--also TROW, a variant of _troll_.
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. of _drincan_, to drink. See
DRENCH.]
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 Britain
_crumbcloth_. [O. Fr. _droguet_, dim. of _drogue_, a drug, trash. See
above.]
DRUID, dr[=oo]'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 called _groves_:--_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 (see COURT-MARTIAL): the top part of a
capstan; DRUM'-M[=A]'JOR, the chief drummer of a regiment (now called
_sergeant-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,
as _Drum_glass, _Drum_sheugh, &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 as DRAMMOCK (q.v.).
DRUMMOND-LIGHT, drum'ond-l[=i]t, _n._ the lime-light or oxy-hydrogen light
invented by Captain T. _Drummond_ (1797-1840). [See LIME-LIGHT.]
DRUNK, drungk, _pa.p._ of DRINK.--_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, dr[=oo]p, _n._ a fleshy fruit containing a stone, as the plum,
&c.--_adj._ DRUP[=A]'CEOUS, producing or pertaining to drupes or
stone-fruits.--_n._ DRUP'EL, a little drupe. [L. _drupa_--Gr. _dryppa_, an
over-ripe olive--_drypep[=e]s_, ripened on the tree, from _drys_, a tree,
and _peptein_, to cook; cf. _drupet[=e]s_--_drys_, and _piptein_, to fall.]
DRUSE, dr[=oo]s, _n._ (_mining_) a rock cavity lined with crystals, a geode
or _vug_. [Ger.]
DRUSE, dr[=oo]s, _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.--Also DRICK'SIE.
DRY, dr[=i], _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._ and _adj._ 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 the _Wet-bob_, who makes rowing his recreation;
DRY'-DOCK (see DOCK).--_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, DR[=I]'LY.--_ns._ DRY'-MEAS'URE (see MEASURE);
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 (see
CUT).--HIGH AND DRY (see HIGH). [A.S. _dr['y]ge_; cf. Dut. _droog_, Ger.
_trocken_.]
DRYAD, dr[=i]'ad, _n._ (_Greek myth._) a nymph of the woods: a forest-tree.
[Gr. _dryas_, from _drys_, a tree.]
DUAL, d[=u]'al, _adj._ consisting of two.--_ns._ D[=U]'AD, a pair of
objects looked at as one; D[=U]'AL-CONTROL', any joint control or
jurisdiction, as of England and France in Egypt; D[=U]'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 to
_idealism_ and to _materialism_; (2) the doctrine of two distinct
principles of good and of evil, or of two distinct divine beings of these
characters; D[=U]'ALIST, a believer in dualism.--_adj._ DUALIS'TIC,
consisting of two: relating to dualism.--_ns._ DUAL'ITY, doubleness: state
of being double; D[=U]'AL-SCHOOL, a school for both boys and girls;
D[=U]'ARCHY, government by two. [L.,--_duo_, two.]
DUALIN, d[=u]-al'in, _n._ an explosive compound of sawdust, saltpetre, and
nitro-glycerine.