Chapter 385

Canst thou so daff me? Thou hast killed my child. Shak.

Daff <Xpage=364>

Daff , n. [See Daft .] A stupid, blockish fellow; a numskull. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Daff <Xpage=364>

Daff (?) , v. i. To act foolishly; to be foolish or sportive; to toy. [Scot.]

Jamieson.

Daff <Xpage=364>

Daff , v. t. To daunt. [Prov. Eng.]

Grose.

Daffodil <Xpage=364>

Daf"fo*dil (?) , n. [OE. affodylle , prop., the asphodel, fr. LL. affodillus (cf. D. affodille or OF. asphodile , aphodille , F. asphod\'8ale ), L. asphodelus , fr. Gr. <?/ . The initial d in English is not satisfactorily explained. See Asphodel .] (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Asphodelus . (b) A plant of the genus Narcissus ( N. Pseudo-narcissus ). It has a bulbous root and beautiful flowers, usually of a yellow hue. Called also daffodilly , daffadilly , daffadowndilly , daffydowndilly , etc.

With damasc roses and daffadowndillies set. Spenser.

Strow me the ground with daffadowndillies , And cowslips, and kingcups, and loved lilies. Spenser.

A college gown That clad her like an April Daffodilly . Tennyson

And chance-sown daffodil . Whittier.

Daft <Xpage=364>

Daft (?) , a. [OE. daft , deft , deft , stupid; prob. the same word as E. deft . See Deft .] 1. Stupid; folish; idiotic; also, delirious; insance; as, he has gone daft .

Let us think no more of this daft business Sir W. Scott.

2. Gay; playful; frolicsome. [Scot.]

Jamieson.

Daftness <Xpage=364>

Daft"ness , n. The quality of being daft.

Dag <Xpage=364>

Dag (?) , n. [Cf. F. dague , LL. daga , D. dagge (fr. French); all prob. fr. Celtic; Cf. Gael. dag a pistol, Armor. dag dagger, W. dager , dagr , Ir. daigear . Cf. Dagger .] 1. A dagger; a poniard. [Obs.]

Johnson.

2. A large pistol formerly used. [Obs.]

The Spaniards discharged their dags , and hurt some. Foxe.

A sort of pistol, called dag , was used about the same time as hand guns and harquebuts. Grose.

3. (Zo\'94l.) The unbrunched antler of a young deer.

Dag <Xpage=364>

Dag , n. [Of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. dagg , Icel. d\'94gg . &root;71. See Dew .] A misty shower; dew. [Obs.]

Dag <Xpage=364>

Dag , n. [OE. dagge (cf. Dagger ); or cf. AS. d\'beg what is dangling.] A loose end; a dangling shred.

Daglocks, clotted locks hanging in dags or jags at a sheep's tail. Wedgwood.

Dag <Xpage=364>

Dag , v. t. [1, from Dag dew. 2, from Dag a loose end.] 1. To daggle or bemire. [Prov. Eng.]

Johnson.

2. To cut into jags or points; to slash; as, to dag a garment . [Obs.]

Wright.

Dag <Xpage=364>

Dag , v. i. To be misty; to drizzle. [Prov. Eng.]

Dagger <Xpage=364>

Dag"ger (?) , n. [Cf. OE. daggen to pierce, F. daguer . See Dag a dagger.] 1. A short weapon used for stabbing. This is the general term: cf. Poniard , Stiletto , Bowie knife , Dirk , Misericorde , Anlace .

2. (Print.) A mark of reference in the form of a dagger [&dagger;]. It is the second in order when more than one reference occurs on a page; -- called also obelisk .

Dagger moth (Zo\'94l.) , any moth of the genus Apatalea . The larv\'91 are often destructive to the foliage of fruit trees, etc. -- Dagger of lath , the wooden weapon given to the Vice in the old Moralities. Shak. -- Double dagger , a mark of reference [&ddagger;] which comes next in order after the dagger. -- To look, &or; speak , daggers , to look or speak fiercely or reproachfully.

Dagger <Xpage=364>

Dag"ger , v. t. To pierce with a dagger; to stab. [Obs.]

Dagger <Xpage=364>

Dag"ger , n. [Perh. from diagonal .] A timber placed diagonally in a ship's frame.

Knight.

Dagges <Xpage=364>

Dagges (?) , n. pl. [OE. See Dag a loose end.] An ornamental cutting of the edges of garments, introduced about a. d. 1346, according to the Chronicles of St Albans. [Obs.]

Halliwell.

Daggle <Xpage=364>

Dag"gle (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Daggled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Daggling (?) .] [Freq. of dag , v. t., 1.] To trail, so as to wet or befoul; to make wet and limp; to moisten.

The warrior's very plume, I say, Was daggled by the dashing spray. Sir W. Scott.

Daggle <Xpage=364>

Dag"gle , v. i. To run, go, or trail one's self through water, mud, or slush; to draggle.

Nor, like a puppy [have I] daggled through the town. Pope.

Daggle-tail, Daggle-tailed <Xpage=364>

Dag"gle-tail` (?) , Dag"gle-tailed` (?) , a. Having the lower ends of garments defiled by trailing in mire or filth; draggle-tailed.

Daggle-tail <Xpage=364>

Dag"gle-tail` (?) , n. A slovenly woman; a slattern; a draggle-tail.

Daglock <Xpage=364>

Dag"lock` (?) , n. [ Dag a loose and + lock .] A dirty or clotted lock of wool on a sheep; a taglock.

Dago <Xpage=364>

Da"go (?) , n. ; pl. Dagos (#) . [Cf. Sp. Diego , E. James.] A nickname given to a person of Spanish (or, by extension, Portuguese or Italian) descent. [U. S.]

Dagoba <Xpage=364>

Da*go"ba (?) , n. [Singhalese d\'begoba .] A dome-shaped structure built over relics of Buddha or some Buddhist saint. [East Indies]

Dagon <Xpage=364>

Da"gon (?) , [Heb. D\'begon , fr. dag a fish: cf. Gr. <?/ .] The national god of the Philistines, represented with the face and hands and upper part of a man, and the tail of a fish.

W. Smith.

This day a solemn feast the people hold To Dagon , their sea idol. Milton.

They brought it into the house of Dagon . 1 Sam. v. 2.

Dagon <Xpage=364>

Dag"on (?) , n. [See Dag a loose end.] A slip or piece. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Dagswain <Xpage=364>

Dag"swain` (?) , n. [From Dag a loose end?] Acoarse woolen fabric made of daglocks, or the refuse of wool. "Under coverlets made of dagswain ."

Holinshed.

Dag-tailed <Xpage=364>

Dag"-tailed` (?) , a. [ Dag a loose end + tail .] Daggle-tailed; having the tail clogged with daglocks. " Dag-tailed sheep."

Bp. Hall.

Daguerrean, Daguerreian <Xpage=364>

Da*guer"re*an (?) , Da*guerre"i*an (?) , a. Pertaining to Daguerre, or to his invention of the daguerreotype.

Daguerreotype <Xpage=364>

Da*guerre"o*type , n. [From Daguerre the inventor + -type .] 1. An early variety of photograph, produced on a silver plate, or copper plate covered with silver, and rendered sensitive by the action of iodine, or iodine and bromine, on which, after exposure in the camera, the latent image is developed by the vapor of mercury.

2. The process of taking such pictures.

Daguerreotype <Xpage=364>

Da*guerre"o*type (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Daguerreotyped (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Daguerreotyping (?) .] 1. To produce or represent by the daguerreotype process, as a picture.

2. To impress with great distinctness; to imprint; to imitate exactly.

Daguerreotyper, Daguerreotypist <Xpage=364>

Da*guerre"o*ty`per (?) , Da*guerre"o*ty`pist (?) , n. One who takes daguerreotypes.

Daguerreotypy <Xpage=364>

Da*guerre"o*ty`py (?) , n. The art or process of producing pictures by method of Daguerre.

Dahabeah <Xpage=364>

Da`ha*be"ah (?) , n. [Ar.] A nile boat <?/tructed on the model of a floating house, having large <?/ sails.

Dahlia <Xpage=364>

Dah"lia (?) , n. ; pl. Dahlias (#) . [Named after Andrew Dahl a Swedish botanist.] (Bot.) A genus of plants native to Mexico and Central America, of the order Composit\'91; also, any plant or flower of the genus. The numerous varieties of cultivated dahlias bear conspicuous flowers which differ in color.

Dahlin <Xpage=364>

Dah"lin (?) , n. [From Dahlia .] (Chem.) A variety of starch extracted from the dahlia; -- called also inulin . See Inulin .

Dailiness <Xpage=364>

Dai"li*ness (?) , n. Daily occurence. [R.]

Daily <Xpage=364>

Dai"ly (?) , a. [AS. d\'91gl\'c6c ; d\'91g day + -l\'c6c like. See Day .] Happening, or belonging to, each successive day; diurnal; as, daily labor; a daily bulletin.

Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.

Bunyan has told us . . . that in New England his dream was the daily subject of the conversation of thousands. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Daily , Diurnal . Daily is Anglo-Saxon, and diurnal is Latin. The former is used in reference to the ordinary concerns of life; as, daily wants, daily cares, daily employments. The latter is appropriated chiefly by astronomers to what belongs to the astronomical day; as, the diurnal revolution of the earth.

Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declares his dignity, And the regard of Heaven on all his ways. Milton.

Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound Within the visible diurnal sphere. Milton.

Daily <Xpage=364>

Dai"ly , n. ; pl. Dailies (<?/) . A publication which appears regularly every day; as, the morning dailies .

Daily <Xpage=364>

Dai"ly , adv. Every day; day by day; as, a thing happens daily .

Daimio <Xpage=364>

Dai"mi*o (?) , n. ; pl. Daimios (#) . [Jap., fr. Chin. tai ming great name.] The title of the feudal nobles of Japan. <-- usu. written daimyo -->

The daimios , or territorial nobles, resided in Yedo and were divided into four classes. Am. Cyc.

Daint <Xpage=364>

Daint (?) , n. [See Dainty , n. ] Something of exquisite taste; a dainty. [Obs.] -- a. Dainty. [Obs.]

To cherish him with diets daint . Spenser.

Daintify <Xpage=364>

Dain"ti*fy (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Daintified (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Daintifying .] [ Dainty + -fy .] To render dainty, delicate, or fastidious. " Daintified emotion."

Sat. rev.

Daintily <Xpage=364>

Dain"ti*ly , adv. In a dainty manner; nicely; scrupulously; fastidiously; deliciously; prettily.

Daintiness <Xpage=364>

Dain"ti*ness , n. The quality of being dainty; nicety; niceness; elegance; delicacy; deliciousness; fastidiousness; squeamishness.

The daintiness and niceness of our captains Hakluyt.

More notorious for the daintiness of the provision . . . than for the massiveness of the dish. Hakewill.

The duke exeeded in the daintiness of his leg and foot, and the earl in the fine shape of his hands, Sir H. Wotton.

Daintrel <Xpage=364>

Dain"trel (?) , n. [From daint or dainty ; cf. OF. daintier .] Adelicacy. [Obs.]

Halliwell.

Dainty <Xpage=364>

Dain"ty (?) , n. ; pl. Dainties (#) . [OE. deinie , dainte , deintie , deyntee , OF. deinti\'82 delicacy, orig., dignity, honor, fr. L. dignitas , fr. dignus worthy. See Deign , and cf. Dignity .] 1. Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in anything. [Obs.]

I ne told no deyntee of her love. Chaucer.

2. That which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy.

That precious nectar may the taste renew Of Eden's dainties , by our parents lost. Beau. & Fl.

3. A term of fondness. [Poetic]

B. Jonson.

Syn. -- Dainty , Delicacy . These words are here compared as denoting articles of food. The term delicacy as applied to a nice article of any kind, and hence to articles of food which are particularly attractive. Dainty is stronger, and denotes some exquisite article of cookery. A hotel may be provided with all the delicacies of the season, and its table richly covered with dainties .

These delicacies I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, Walks and the melody of birds. Milton.

[A table] furnished plenteously with bread, And dainties , remnants of the last regale. Cowper.

Dainty <Xpage=364>

Dain"ty , a. [ Compar. Daintier (?) ; superl. Daintiest .] 1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.]

Full many a deynt\'82 horse had he in stable. Chaucer.

&hand; Hence the proverb " dainty maketh dearth ," i . e ., rarity makes a thing dear or precious.

2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome.

Dainty bits Make rich the ribs. Shak.

3. Nice; delicate;elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed; neat; tender.

Those dainty limbs which nature lent For gentle usage and soft delicacy. Milton.

Iwould be the girdle. About her dainty , dainty waist. Tennyson.

4. Requirinig daintles. Hence; Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; sqrupulous; ceremonious.

Thew were a fine and Dainty people. Bacon.

And let us not be dainty of leave taking, But shift away. Shak.

To make dainty , to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. [Obs.]

Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty , She, I'll swear, hath corns. Shak.

Dairy <Xpage=364>

Dai"ry (?) , n. ; pl. Dairies (#) . [OE. deierie , from deie , daie , maid; of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. deigja maid, dairymaid, Sw. deja , orig., a baking maid, fr. Icel. deig . <?/66. See Dough .] 1. The place, room, or house where milk is kept, and converted into butter or cheese.

What stores my dairies and my folds contain. Dryden.

2. That department of farming which is concerned in the production of milk, and its conversion into butter and cheese.

Grounds were turned much in England either to feeding or dairy ; and this advanced the trade of English butter. Temple.

3. A dairy farm. [R.]

&hand; Dairy is much used adjectively or in combination; as, dairy farm, dairy countries, dairy house or dairy house, dairy room, dairy work, etc.

Dairying <Xpage=364>

Dai"ry*ing , n. The business of conducting a dairy.

Dairymaid <Xpage=364>

Dai"ry*maid` (?) , n. A female servant whose business is the care of the dairy.

Dairyman <Xpage=364>

Dai"ry*man (?) , n. ; pl. Dairymen (<?/) . A man who keeps or takes care of a dairy.

Dairywoman <Xpage=364>

Dai"ry*wom`an (?) , n. ; pl. Dairywomen (<?/) . A woman who attends to a dairy.

Dais <Xpage=364>

Da"is (d&amac;"&icr;s) , n. [OE. deis , des , table, dais, OF. deis table, F. dais a canopy, L. discus a quoit, a dish (from the shape), LL., table, fr. Gr. <?/ a quoit, a dish. See Dish .] 1. The high or principal table, at the end of a hall, at which the chief guests were seated; also, the chief seat at the high table. [Obs.]

2. A platform slightly raised above the floor of a hall or large room, giving distinction to the table and seats placed upon it for the chief guests.

3. A canopy over the seat of a person of dignity. [Obs.]

Shiply.

Daisied <Xpage=364>

Dai"sied (?) , a. Full of daisies; adorned with daisies. "The daisied green."

Langhorne.

The grass all deep and daisied . G. Eliot.

Daisy <Xpage=364>

Dai"sy (?) , n. ; pl. Daisies (#) . [OE. dayesye , AS. d\'91ges<?/eage day's eye, daisy. See Day , and Eye .] (Bot.) (a) A genus of low herbs ( Bellis ), belonging to the family Composit\'91. The common English and classical daisy is B. prennis , which has a yellow disk and white or pinkish rays. (b) The whiteweed ( Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum ), the plant commonly called daisy in North America; -- called also oxeye daisy . See Whiteweed .

&hand; The word daisy is also used for composite plants of other genera, as Erigeron , or fleabane.

Michaelmas daisy (Bot.) , any plant of the genus Aster, of which there are many species. -- Oxeye daisy (Bot.) , the whiteweed. See Daisy (b) .

Dak <Xpage=364>

Dak (?) , n. [Hind. <?/\'bek .] Post; mail; also, the mail or postal arrangements; -- spelt also dawk , and dauk . [India]

Dak boat , a mail boat. Percy Smith . -- Dak bungalow , a traveler's rest-house at the and of a dak stage. -- To travel by dak , to travel by relays of palanquines or other carriage, as fast as the post along a road.

Daker, Dakir <Xpage=364>

Da"ker (?) , Da"kir (?) , n. [See Dicker .] (O. Eng. & Scots Law) A measure of certain commodities by number, usually ten or twelve, but sometimes twenty; as, a daker of hides consisted of ten skins; a daker of gloves of ten pairs.

Burrill.

Daker hen <Xpage=364>

Da"ker hen` (?) . [ Perh . fr . W . crecial the daker hen; crec a sharp noise ( creg harsh, hoarse, crechian to scream) + iar hen; or cf. D. duiken to dive, plunge.] (Zo\'94l.) The corncrake or land rail.

Dakoit, n., Dakoity <Xpage=364>

Da*koit" , n. , Da*koit"y , n. See Dacoit , Dacoity .

Dakota group <Xpage=364>

Da*ko"ta group` (?) . (Geol.) A subdivision at the base of the cretaceous formation in Western North America; -- so named from the region where the strata were first studied.

Dakotas <Xpage=364>