dams 
dams (damz), H. pi. [Also written dames, pi. 
(in sing, dam, a crowned piece: see dam 3 ), < 
Sw. and Dan. (turn (also Sw. damspel = Dan. 
damspil; Sw. spel = Dan. spil, play) = D. dam 
(damspel) = G. dame (damspiel, damenspiel) = 
F. (Jeu de) dames = Sp. (jiieyo de) daman = Pg. 
(jot/o do xadrez e dan) damns = It. damn, lit. 
game of ladies : see flame.'] A Scotch name for 
the game of checkers or draughts. 
damsel 1 (dam'zel), n. [Also, more or less ar- 
chaically, damosel, damozel, damozell, etc.; < ME. 
damesele, damisele, dumezele, damoisel,-elle, etc., 
< OF. dameisele, damoisele, damoiselle, etc., F. 
demoiselle = Pr. Sp. damisela = It. damigella; 
OF. also dansele, damsels, dancele, doncelle = 
Pr. donzella = Sp. doncella = Pg. donzella = It. 
donsella ; < ML. domicella, a young lady, a girl, 
contr. of "dominicella, dim. of L. doniina, a lady, 
dame: see dame, Cf. damsel 1 *.] 1. A young 
unmarried woman ; especially, in former use, a 
maiden of gentle birth. 
And straight did enterpris 
Th' adventure of the Errant damuzell. 
Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 19. 
Then Boaz said, Whose damsel is this? Kuth ii. f. 
A damsel with a dulcimer 
In a vision once I saw. 
Coleridye, Kubla Khan. 
Tlie blessed damozel leaned out 
From the gold bar of heaven. 
D. <J. Rossetti, The Blessed Damozel. 
2t. A contrivance put into a bed to warm the 
feet of old or sick persons. Bailey, 3. A pro- 
jection on a millstone-spindle for shaking the 
shoe. E. H. Knight. 
damsel 2 t (dam'zel), . [Not found in ME., be- 
ing used only as in OF. titles; < OF. damuixcl, 
damaisel, damaseal, etc., F. damoweau, OF. also 
darnel, darnel, dancel, donsel, dtmzel, doncel, etc., 
= Pr. donzel = Sp. doncel = Pg. donzel = It. 
donzello = E. donzel (q. v.), < ML. domieellus, a 
young gentleman, a page, contr. of dominicellus, 
dim. of dominus, master, lord: see dan 1 , don 2 , 
dominus. Cf. damsel^, the corresponding femi- 
nine.] A titular designation of a young gentle- 
man ; a young man of gentle or noble birth : as, 
damsel Pepin ; damsel Richard, Prince of Wales. 
damsel-fly (dam'zel-fli), . A dragon-fly or 
devil's darning-needle : so called after the 
French name of these insects, demoiselle. 
The beautiful blue damsel-flies. 
Moore, Paradise and the Peri. 
damson (dam'zn), n. [Earlier damisin, dam- 
masin, < ME. damasyn, damysttyn, < OF. da- 
maisine, {., damson, prop. fern, of damaisin, < L. 
Damascenus, of Damascus, neut. Damasccnunt 
(sc. prunum, plum), a Damascus plum, < Da- 
mascus, Damascus: see damascene, n., and dam- 
ask.'] The fruit of 1'runus communis, variety 
damascena, a small black, dark-bluish, or purple 
plum. The finest variety of this plum is the Shropshire 
damson, which is extensively used for preserves. For- 
merly also damascene. 
In his chapter of prunes and Damt/seim, Andrew fiordc 
says, Syxe or seuen Damyxens eaten before dyner be good 
to prouoke a mannes appetyde. 
Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 207. 
The damaicem are much commended if they be sweete 
and ripe, and they are called damascens of the citie of Da- 
mascus of Soria. Benvenuto, Passengers' Dialogues (1812). 
Bitter or mountain damson, the Simamba amara of 
Guiana and the West Indies. Damson cheese a con- 
serve of fresh damsons, pressed into the shape of a cheese. 
dam-stone (dam'ston), n. The wall of fire- 
brick or stone closing the front of the hearth 
in a blast-furnace. 
dan 1 (dan), n. [ME. dan, daun, dam, < OF. dan, 
dam, dom, dant, damp, dotnp (nom. dan, dang) 
= Pr. Sp. don = Pg. dom, < L. dominus, master: 
see dominus, doift, and cf. dame = dam 2 , dam- 
sen, damseP.] A title of honor equivalent to 
master, don, or sir, formerly common, now onlv 
archaic. 
" Ha ! dan Abbot," toke hym to say an hy, 
" Abbot, for why haue ye made folyly 
My brother a monke in thys said Abbay?" 
Rom. of Partenay, I. 3259. 
Dan Chaucer, well of English undefyled 
On Fame's eternall beadroll worthie to be filed. 
Spenser, F. Q., IV. ii. 32. 
This wimpled, whining, purblind, wayward boy ; 
llus senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid. 
Shak., L. L. L., 111. 1. 
dan 2 (dan), n. [Origin obscure.] In mining: 
(a) A small box for carrying coal or attle in a 
mine. (6) In the midland counties of England, 
a tub or ban-el in which water is carried to the 
pump or raised to the surface. It may or may 
not be mounted on wheels, 
danaid (da'na-id), a. Pertaining to or having 
the characters of the Danaides or Danais. 
1450 
danaide (da'na-id), n. [See Danaidean.'] A tub- 
wheel. See wuter-wlieel. 
Danaidean (da-na-id'e-an), a. [< L. Danaides, 
< Gr. AawzioVf, in Gr. myth, the fifty daughters 
of Aawziif, Danaus, king of Argos. See def. 1.] 
1. Relating or pertaining to the fifty Danaides, 
daughters of Dauaus, king of Argos, who mar- 
ried the fifty sons of his twin brother ^gyp- 
tus, king of Arabia and Egypt, and all but one 
of whom killed their husbands by command of 
their father on their wedding-night. They were 
condemned in Hades to pour water everlasting- 
ly into sieves, or into a vessel without a bot- 
tom. Hence 2. Ineffective; laborious and 
useless ; unending. 
The water [ in a leaky ship] is pumped back to its source, 
and the crew are worn out with their Danaidean task. 
The Century, XXVII. 704. 
Danaides, ./'' [F.] Same &s Danainw. Sois- 
dm-al, 1832. 
Danainae (da-na-i'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Danais, 
Danaus, 1, + -intE.~] A subfamily of nympha- 
lid butterflies, typified by the genus Danais, 
and including also Euplcea. They have the head 
broad, with distant palpi, the discal cell of the fore wing 
open, that of the hind wing closed. The larvje are cylin- 
drical and have two fleshy dorsal appendages near the 
anus. 
Danais, Danaus (da'na-is, -us), . [NL., < 
Gr. Aovaif, sing, of Aavatdef, the daughters of 
Danaiis.] 1. The typical genus of Danainte. 
These butterflies are large stout species of a reddish-brown 
or brown color, with a strong bad odor. There are about 20 
species, mostly tropical. D. archipputi is very common, and 
cosmopolitan ; in the United States its larva feeds on milk- 
weed (Ascleyias). Its flight is powerful, and it often mi- 
grates in nocks. Specimens have occasionally been cap- 
tured at sea several hundred miles from land. Latreillc, 
1819. 
2. [/. c.] A nymphalid butterfly of the genus 
Danais. 
The coppery danaix flitted at ease about the shrubs. 
P. Robinson, Under the Sun, p. 94. 
danaite (da'na-it), n. [After J. F. Dana, an 
American chemist (1793-1827).] A variety of 
the mineral arsenopyrite or mispickel (arseni- 
cal pyrites), peculiar in containing 6 per cent, 
of cobalt. It is found at Franconia, New Hamp- 
shire. 
danalite (da'na-lit), . [After J. D. Dana, an 
American mineralogist and geologist (born 
1813).] A rare mineral, a silicate of iron, zinc, 
manganese, and glucinum, containing about 6 
per cent, of sulphur, found in eastern Massa- 
chusetts, in grains and isometric crystals in 
granite. 
Danaus, n. See Danais. 
danbuiite (dan'ber-it), n. [< Danbwry (see 
def.) + -i'<e 2 .] A borosilicate of calcium, of a 
white to yellowish color, occurring in indis- 
tinct embedded crystals at Danbury in Con- 
necticut ; also in fine crystals resembling topaz 
at Russell in St. Lawrence county, New York, 
and in Switzerland. 
dance (dans), v. ; pret. and pp. danced, ppr. dan- 
cing. [Early mod. E. also daunce ; < ME. daun- 
ceit, daunsen (= D. dansen = MLG. LG. danzen 
= Dan. dandse = Sw. dansa = Icel. danza, mod. 
dansa; also, of earlier date, MHG. and G. taii- 
zen), < OF. dancer, danser, F. danger = Pr. dan- 
sar = Sp. da-mar = Pg. danqttr = It. danzare, 
< ML. dansare, dance, prob. < OHG. danson, 
MHG. dansen,, draw, draw along, trail, a secon- 
dary verb, prob. < OHG. tit-wan, MHG. dinsen = 
OS. thinsan = Goth, "tliinsan, in comp. at- 
tlnnsan, draw, drag, akin to uf-thanjan, stretch 
after, etc.: see thin. Older Teut. terms for 
dance were : AS. tumbian (> ult. E. tumble: see 
tumble, tumbler) ; hoppian (> E. hop : see hopl) ; 
sealtian = OHG. salzon, < L. saltare (see salta- 
tion); OS. OHG. spilon (= G. spielen, play : see 
speltf); Goth. laikan, lit. play (see larl&); Goth. 
plinsjan, < OBulg. plensati, dance.] I. intrans. 
1. To leap or spring with regular or irregu- 
lar steps, as an expression of some emotion; 
move or act quivenngly from excitement: as, 
he danced with joy. 
I have tremor cordis on me : my heart dances ; 
But not for joy. Shak., W. T., i. -1. 
All my blood danced in me, and I knew 
That I should light upon the Holy Grail. 
Tennyson, Holy Grail. 
2. To move nimbly or quickly with an irregu- 
lar leaping motion ; bound up and down: as, the 
blow he gave the table made the dishes dance; 
the mote dancing in the sunbeam. 
He made the bishop to dance in his boots, 
And glad he could so get away. 
Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford (Child's Ballads, 
[V. 207). 
dance 
One red leaf, the last of its clan, 
That da,it?H as often aa dance it can, 
Hanging so light and hanging so high, 
On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky. 
Coleridge, Christabel, i. 
Bobbins sometimes dance and cause bad winding, and 
consequently strain roving. 
f. H'ilniii, Cotton Carder's Companion, p. 107. 
3. To move the body or the feet rhythmically 
to music, either by one's self or with a partner 
or in a set ; perform the series of cadenced steps 
and rhythmic movements which constitute a 
dance; engage or take part in a dance. 
Pray, good shepherd, what fair swain is this 
Which dances with your daughter? 
,s7mt., W. T., Iv. 3. 
Still unaccomplish'd may the ilaid be thought, 
Who gracefully to Dance was never taught. 
Congreve, tr. of Ovid's Art of Love. 
II. trans. 1. To give a dancing motion to; 
cause to move up and down with a jerky, irreg- 
ular motion ; dandle. 
Thy (jrandsire lov'd thee well ; 
Many a time he danc'd thee on his knee. 
Shak., Tit. And., v. 3. 
2. To perform or take part in as a dancer ; ex- 
ecute, or take part in executing, the cadenced 
steps or regulated movements which constitute 
(some particular dance): as, to dance a qua- 
drille or a hornpipe. 
Is there nae ane amang you a' 
Vf ill dance this dauuce for me? 
Sweet Willie and Fair Maisry (Child's Ballads, II. 33B). 
3. To lead or conduct with a tripping, dancing 
movement. 
Let the torrent dance thee down 
To find him in the valley. 
Tennyson, Princess, vii. 
TO dance a beart, to exhibit a performing bear; hence, 
to play the showman. 
What though I am obligated to dance a bear, a man may 
be a gentleman for all that. 
Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, L 2. 
To dance attendance, to wait with obsequiousness; 
strive to please and gain favor by assiduous attentions 
and officious civilities. 
A man of his place, and so near our favour, 
To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasures. 
Shale., Hen. VIII., v. 2. 
Hee will waite vpon your Htaires a whole Afternoone, 
and dance attendance with more patience then a Gentle- 
mau-Vshcr. 
Bp. Earle, Micro-cosmographie, A Vniuersitie Dunne. 
To dance the hay. See hayt. 
dance (dans), . [Early mod. E. daunce; < ME. 
daunce, dawnce (= D. dans = MLG. dam, dans, 
LG. danz = Dan. dands = Sw. dans = Olcel. 
danz, mod. dans; also, of earlier date, MHG. 
and G. tanz), < OF. dance, danse, F. danse = Pr. 
dansa = Sp. It. danza = Pg. danya ; from 
the verb.] 1. A succession of more or less 
regularly ordered steps and movements of the 
body, commonly guided by the rhythmical in- 
tervals of a musical accompaniment ; any leap- 
ing or gliding movement with more or less regu- 
lar steps and turnings, expressive of or designed 
to awaken some emotion. The dance is perhaps the 
earliest and most spontaneous mode of expressing emotion 
and dramatic feeling ; it exists in a great variety of forms, 
and Is among some people connected with religious belief 
and practice, as among the Mohammedans and Hindus. 
Modern dances include the jig, hornpipe, etc., step-dances 
executed by one person ; the waltz, polka, schottische, 
etc., danced by pairs, and usually called round dances; 
the reel, quadrille, etc., usually called square dances, 
danced by an even number of pairs ; the country-dance, 
in which any number of pairs may take part ; and the co- 
tillion or germau, consisting of many intricate figures, in 
the execution of which the waltz-movement predominates. 
Ffor thei fonde a medowe that was closed a-boute with 
wode, and fonde with-ynne the feirest daunxeit of the 
worlde of ladies, and of rnaydenes, and knyghtes, the 
feireste that euer hadde thei seyn in her ly ve. 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 361. 
Meanwhile welcome joy and feast, . . . 
Tipsy dance and jollity. Milton, Comus, 1. 104. 
On with the dance ! let joy be unconflned. 
Byron, Childe Harold, iii. 22. 
2. A tune by which dancing is regulated, as 
the minuet, the waltz, the cotillion, etc. 3. 
A dancing-party ; a ball; a "hop." 
It was not till the evening of the dance at Netherfleld 
that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious at- 
tachment. Jane Aiwten, Pride and Prejudice, p. 169. 
A dinner and then a dance 
For the maids and marriage-makers. 
fcmywm, Maud, xx. 
4. Figuratively, progressive or strenuous move- 
ment of any kind ; a striving or struggling mo- 
tion : often used by old writers in a sarcastic 
sense, especially in the phrases tlic m-ir ilannce, 
till' Illfl (llllllK-/-. 
He may gon in the daunce 
Of hem that Love list ffbely for to avaunce. 
Chaucer, Troilus, i. 517. 
