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 _Araceæ_, 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.
DUM-DUM, dum'-dum, _n._ a soft-nosed expanding bullet, first made at _Dum
Dum_ in British India.
DUMOSE, d[=u]'m[=o]s, _adj._ thorny--also D[=U]'MOUS.--_n._ DUMOS'ITY. [L.
_dumus_, a thorn-bush.]
DUMP, dump, _v.t._ to throw down: to unload.--_n._ a thud: a place for the
discharge of loads, or for rubbish: (_pl._) money (_slang_). [Cf. Dan.
_dumpe_, Norw. _dumpa_, to fall plump.]
DUMP, dump, _n._ dullness or gloominess of mind, ill-humour, low
spirits--now only used in the _pl._: (_Shak._) a melancholy strain, any
tune.--_adj._ DUMP'ISH, depressed in spirits.--_adv._ DUMP'ISHLY.--_n._
DUMP'ISHNESS. [Prob. related to Old Dut. _domp_, mist; or Ger. _dumpf_,
gloomy.]
DUMP, dump, _n._ a deep hole in a river-bed, a pool. [Prob. Norse _dump_, a
pit.]
DUMPLING, dump'ling, _n._ a kind of thick pudding or mass of paste. [Dim.
of _dump_, in _dumpy_.]
DUMPY, dump'i, _adj._ short and thick.--_n._ a dumpy person or animal, esp.
one of a breed of very short-legged fowls.--_n._ DUMPI'NESS.--_v.t._
DUM'PLE, to make or cook, as a dumpling: to bend into a dumpy shape.--_n._
DUMP'Y-LEV'EL, a spirit-level used in surveying, having a short telescope
with a large aperture. [From a provincial form _dump_, a clumsy piece.]
DUN, dun, _adj._ of a dark colour, partly brown and black: dark.--_v.t._
(_U.S._) to cure and brown, as cod.--_v.i._ to become dun-coloured.--_ns._
DUN'-BIRD, the pochard; DUN'-COW, the shagreen ray; DUN'-D[=I]V'ER, the
merganser; DUN'-FISH, codfish cured by dunning.--_adj._ DUN'NISH, somewhat
dun. [A.S. _dun_, most prob. Celt.; W. _dwn_, dusky, Gael. _donn_, brown.]
DUN, dun, _v.t._ to demand a debt with din or noise: to urge for
payment:--_pr.p._ dun'ning; _pa.p._ dunned.--_n._ one who duns: a demand
for payment. [Allied to DIN.]
DUN, dun, _n._ a hill: a fortified mound. [A.S. _dún_--Celt.; in many
place-names, as _Dun_bar, _Don_caster.]
DUNCE, duns, _n._ one slow at learning: a stupid person.--_ns._ DUNCE'DOM,
the class of dunces; DUN'CERY, stupidity; DUN'CIAD, the epic of dunces, the
world of dunces--name of a famous poem by Pope.--_adjs._ DUN'CISH,
DUNCE'-LIKE. [_Duns_ Scotus (died 1308), the Subtle Doctor, leader of the
schoolmen, from him called _Dunses_, who opposed classical studies on the
revival of learning--hence any opposer of learning, a blockhead.]
DUNCH, dunsh, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to push with the elbow: to gore with the
horns, as a bull. [Hardly related to Sw. _dunka_, to beat; Dan. _dunke_, a
thump.]
DUNDER, dun'd[.e]r, _n._ lees, dregs.
DUNDERFUNK, dun'd[.e]r-fungk, _n._ ship-biscuit, soaked in water, mixed
with fat and molasses, and baked in a pan.--Also DAN'DYFUNK.
DUNDERHEAD, dun'd[.e]r-hed, _n._ a stupid person--also DUN'DERPATE.--_adj._
DUN'DERHEADED.--_n._ DUN'DER-HEADISM.
DUNDREARY, dun-dr[=e]r'i, _adj._ like Lord _Dundreary_--in Sothern's
creation of the part, a lisping and brainless dandy, wearing long
side-whiskers.
DUNE, d[=u]n, _n._ a low hill of sand on the seashore. [An earlier form of
_down_, a hill.]
DUNG, dung, _n._ the excrement of animals: refuse litter mixed with
excrement.--_v.t._ to manure with dung.--_v.i._ to void excrement.--_ns._
DUNG'-BEE'TLE, the dor-beetle: (_pl._) the scarabæoid beetles generally;
DUNG'-FORK, a fork used for moving stable manure; DUNG'HILL, a heap of
dung: any mean situation; DUNG'MERE, a manure-pit.--_adj._ DUNG'Y. [A.S.
_dung_; cf. Dan. _dynge_, a heap; Ger. _dung_.]
DUNGAREE, dung'ga-ri, _n._ a coarse Indian calico: (_pl._) trousers of
such.--Also DUNG'EREE. [Hindi.]
DUNGEON, dun'jun, _n._ (_orig._) the principal tower of a castle: a close,
dark prison: a cell under ground.--_v.t._ to confine in a dungeon.--_n._
DUN'GEONER, a gaoler. [O. Fr. _donjon_--Low L. _domnion-em_--L. _dominus_,
a lord.]
DUNKER, dungk'[.e]r, _n._ a member of a sect of German-American Baptists
who practise triple immersion.--Also TUNK'ER. [Ger.]