Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Drāb'ble-tāil, n. p. 409One who has the bottom of her gown dirty; a slattern. Halliwell.Drāb'bling, n. p. 409A method of angling for barbels, with a rod and long line passed through a piece of lead.Dra-cæ'na, n. p. 409(Bot.) A genus of endogenous plants, of which one species, the D. draco, affords the resin of commerce called dragon's-blood.Drā'canth, n. p. 409A kind of gum;—called also gum-tragacanth, or tragacanth. See TRAGACANTH.Drăchm, n. p. 409See DRAM and DRACHMA.Drăch'mȧ, n. p. 409A silver coin among the Greeks, having a different value in different states and at different periods. The average value of the Attic drachma was 9¾ d., or about 18 cents. 2. A weight among the…Dra-çī'nȧ or Drā'çine, n. p. 409(Chem.) A chemical principle constituting the coloring matter of dragon’s blood; draconine.Drā'co, n. p. 409(Astron.) The Dragon, a constellation of the northern hemisphere, regarded as representing the monster fabled to have watched the garden of the Hesperides. 2. A luminous exhalation from marshy…Drā'co-cĕph'a-lŭm, n. p. 409(Bot.) A genus of fragrant plants; dragon's-head.Dra-cōn'ic, a. p. 409Relating to Draco, the lawgiver; or to the constellation Draco.Dra-cō′nine, n. p. 409The same as DRACINA.Dra-cōn’tic, a. p. 409(Astron.) Belonging to that space of time in which the moon performs one entire revolution. [Obs.]Dra-cōn’tīne, a. p. 409Belonging to a dragon. Southey.Dră-cōn'ī-ŭm, n. p. 409(Bot.) A genus of East Indian plants, the root of one species of which possesses antispasmodic properties. Ogilvie.Dră-cūn'cu-lus, n. p. 409(Bot.) A plant of the Arum family, and genus Dracunculus. It has a long stalk, spotted like a serpent’s belly. 2. (Entom.) The Filaria medinensis of Linnæus, or Guinea-worm; — supposed to be a worm…Drăd, a. p. 409See DREAD. Dread. [Obs.] Spenser.Drȧff, n. p. 409Refuse; lees; dregs; the wash given to swine, or grains to cows; waste matter. Prodigals lately come from swine-feeding, from eating draff and husks. Shak. Mere chaff and draff, much better burnt.…Drȧff'ish, a. p. 409Worthless; draffy. Bale.Drȧff'y, a. p. 409Dreggy; waste; worthless. “The dregs and draffy part.” Beau. & Fl.Drȧft, n. p. 409The act of drawing; the drawing of loads by beasts of burden. 2. (Mil.) A selection of men from a military band; a selecting or detaching of soldiers from an army, or any part of it, or from a…Drăft, v. t. p. 409To draw the outline of; to delineate. 2. To compose and write; as, to draft a memorial or a lease. 3. To draw from a military band or post, or from any company, collection, or society; to detach; to…Dráft'-èn'gīne, n. p. 409(Mining.) An engine used for pumping, raising heavy weights, and the like.Draft'-horse, n. p. 409A horse employed in drawing, particularly in drawing heavy loads, or in plowing.Dráft'-nèt, a. p. 409A net dragged behind a vessel when under way. [Written also draught-net.] Simmonds.Drāft'-ŏx, n. p. 409An ox employed in drawing.Dráfts'man, n. p. 409The same as DRAUGHTSMAN.Drāg, v. t. p. 409To draw along the ground by main force; to cause to move slowly or heavily onward by pulling; to pull; to haul;—applied particularly to drawing heavy bodies with labor along the ground or other…Drāg, v. i. p. 409To be drawn along, as a rope or dress, on the ground; to be moved onward along the ground, or along the bottom of the sea, as an anchor that does not hold. 2. To move heavily, laboriously, or slowly…Drāg, n. p. 409A net, to be drawn along the bottom under water, for the purpose of bringing sunken bodies to the surface. 2. A kind of sledge for conveying heavy bodies; as, a stone-drag. 3. A carriage or coach.…Dra-găm'tine, n. p. 409A mucilage obtained from, or consisting of, gum-tragacanth.Drāg'-bār, n. p. 409A bar or link for attaching carriages together, or to the moving power, as on railroads; a coupling;—called also drag-link and draw-link.Drăg'-bōlt, n. p. 409A stout iron pin or bolt passing through the end of a drag-bar, and serving to fasten the coupling of a locomotive and tender, or that of two cars, on a railway.Drăg'gle, v. t. p. 409To wet and dirty by drawing on the ground or mud, or on wet grass; to drabble. Gray. With draggled nets down hanging to the tide. Trench.Drāg'gle, v. i. p. 409To be drawn on the ground; to become wet or dirty by being drawn on the mud or wet grass.Dräg'gle-tāil, n. p. 409A slut; a drabble-tail. Sherwood.Drăg'gle-tāiled, a. p. 409Untidy; sluttish. W. Irving.Drăg'-lĭnk, n. p. 409(Mach.) A link connecting the cheeks of a double crank, to allow end-play. 2. See DRAG-BAR.Drāg'man, n. p. 409A fisherman that uses a dragnet. Hale.Drāg'nēt, n. p. 409A net to be drawn along the bottom of a river or pond for taking fish.Drāg'o-man, n. p. 409An interpreter;—so called in the Levant and other parts of the East.Drāg'on, n. p. 409(Myth.) A fabulous animal, generally represented as a monstrous winged serpent or lizard, with a crested head and enormous claws, and regarded as very powerful and ferocious. The dragons which appear…Dräg'on, a. p. 410Suitable for, or resembling, dragons; pertaining to, or consisting of, dragons; frightful. “Cynthia checks her dragon yoke.” Milton.Dräg'on-bēam, n. p. 410(Arch.) A beam or piece of timber used to receive and support the foot of the hip-rafter;—called also dragon-piece. Ogilvie.Dräg'on-ēt, n. p. 410A little dragon. Spenser. 2. (Ichth.) A genus of fishes (Callionymus) belonging to the goby family. Its ventral fins are widely separated, larger than the pectoral, and situated under the throat; the…Drăg'on-fish, n. p. 410The dragonet.Dräg'on-fly, n. p. 410(Entom.) A genus of insects of the family Libellulidæ, having large and strongly reticulated wings, a large head with enormous eyes, and a long body. They are exceedingly powerful and swift of…Dräg'on-ish, a. p. 410Resembling a dragon. Shak.Drăg'on-nāde', n. p. 410The severe persecution of French Protestants under Louis XIV., by an armed force, usually of dragoons; hence, a rapid and devastating incursion; dragoonade. He learnt it as he watched the…Drăg'on's-blōod, n. p. 410A resinous substance brought from the East Indies, Africa, and South America, obtained from several trees, as the Dracæna draco, the Pterocarpus santalinus, P. draco, and Calamus rotang. Its color is…Drāg'on's-hĕad, n. p. 410(Bot.) A plant of several species of the genus Dracocephalum. 2. (Astron.) The ascending node of a planet, indicated, chiefly in almanacs, by the symbol ☊. The deviation from the ecliptic made by a…Drä'g'on-shĕll, n. p. 410(Conch.) A species of patella or limpet; Cypræa stolida.Drāg'on's-tāil, n. p. 410(Astron.) The descending node of a planet, indicated by the symbol ☋. See DRAGON'S-HEAD.Drāg'on's-wa'ter, n. p. 410(Bot.) A plant belonging to the genus Calla. 2. A medicinal remedy very popular in the earlier half of the 17th century. “Dragon-water may do good upon him.” Randolph, 1646.Drāg'on's-wort, n. p. 410(Bot.) A plant of the genus Artemisia; A. dracunculus.Drāg'on-tree, n. p. 410(Bot.) A plant or tree of the genus Dracæna, originally from India, and affording the resin called Dragon's-blood. D. draco is the common species, and is of the palm type. Loudon.Dra-goon', n. p. 410[Fr. & Sp. drágon, It. dragone, dragon and dragoon, from Lat. draco, dragon; Ger. dragoner, D. dragonder, Dan. & Sw. dragon; Lat. draconarius, standard-bearer;—a name probably given to these light…Dra-goōn', v. t. p. 410To enslave or reduce to subjection by soldiers. 2. To persecute by abandoning a place to the rage of soldiers. Johnson. 3. To compel to submit by violent measures; to force; to harass; to persecute.…Drăg'ōn-āde', n. p. 410The same as DRAGON-NADE. Burnet.Dra-gōŏn'-bird, n. p. 410(Ornith.) A Brazilian bird (Cephalopterus ornatus), having a large, umbrella-like crest of feathers above the bill. Ogilvie.Dra-gōon'er, n. p. 410A dragoon. [Obs.] Clarendon.