dasher-block 
dasher-block (dash'er-blok), n. Naut., a small 
block at the extremity of the spanker-gaff, for 
reeving the ensign-halyards. See cut on pre- 
ceding page. 
dash-guard (dash'gtird), . A metal plate 
which protects the platform of a street-car 
from the mud or snow which might be thrown 
upon it by the horses. 
dashing (dash'ing), p. a. [Ppr. of dash, v.} 1. 
Performed with or at a dash ; impetuous ; spir- 
ited : as, a dasliing charge. 
On the 4th Van Dorn made a dashing attack, hoping, 
no doubt, to capture Rosecrans before his reinforcements 
c-ould come up. IT. S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, I. 41B. 
2. Showy; brilliant: as, a dasliing fellow. 
" But the society is very good still, is it not 1" " Oh, very 
genteel," said the man, "but not so dashing as it Died t 
be." Bulwer, Pelham. 
3. Ostentatious; bold; dashy. 
dashingly (dash'ing-li), adt: In a dashing 
manner ; with dash. 
dashism. (dash'izm), n. [< dash + -ism.} The 
character or state of being dashing; the state 
of being a dasher. [Rare.] 
He must fight a duel before his claims to ... dashism 
can be universally allowed. 
V. Knox, Winter Evenings, xxviii. 
dash-lamp (dash'lamp), . A small lantern 
with a reflector, designed to be hung upon the 
dash-board of a carriage. 
dash-pot (dash'pot), n. 1. A cylinder contain- 
ing a loosely fitted piston, and partly filled with 
fluid, designed to check sudden movements in 
a piece of mechanism to which it is attached. 
2. A device sometimes used for controlling the 
motion of an arc-lamp, and in other electrical 
instruments. It generally consists of a closed chamber 
filled with a viscous liquid, in which a piston moves. The 
resistance offered by the liquid prevents a sudden mo' 
ment of the part to which the piston is attached. 
dash-rule (dash'rol), n. In printing, a metallic 
rule having on it a line or lines shorter than the 
width of the column in a newspaper or the page 
in a book, used to separate one subject from 
another. See rule. 
dash-wheel (dash'hwel), n. In cotton-mamif., 
a wheel with compartments, partly submerged 
in a cistern, in which it revolves. It serves by its 
rotation to wash and rinse calico in the piece, by alter- 
nately dipping it in the water and dashing it from side to 
side of the compartment. E. II. Knii/ht. 
dashy (dash'i), a. [< dasli + -yl.] Calculated 
to attract attention ; showy ; stylish ; dashing. 
It was a dashy barouche, drawn by a glossy-black span. 
J. T. Trowbridye, Coupon Bonds, p. 66. 
I saw his dashy wife arranging a row of Johannisberg 
bottles. Katianal Daptist, XIX. 15. 
dasiberdt, dasyberdt, [ME., also daysyberd, 
dosebeirdv, dossiberde, doscibeirde; appar. < "dttsy 
or 'dosy Icel. dasinn, lazy, dasi, a lazy fellow; 
cf. Sw. dasig, idle, Dan. dosig (= LG. dosig), 
drowsy: see daze, doze) + herd, beard. Cf. das- 
tard.} A dullard; a simpleton; a fool. 
Duribwxus, that neuer openeth his mouth, a da-tabi'rdr. 
Medulla, in Prompt. Parv., p. 114, note. 
Ther is a dossibcrd I wonlde dere, 
That walkes abrode wilde were. 
Chester Plays, i. 201. 
Dasmia (das'mi-a), n. [NL. ; also and prop. 
Desmia; < Gr. Sea/uof, bound, < &a/i6f, a band, 
bond.] The typical genus of corals of the fam- 
ily Dasmiidce. 
Dasmiidae (das-mi'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Dasmia 
+ -ida:.} A family of aporose corals. See Pseu- 
doturbinolida!. 
Dasornis (da-sor'nis), n. [NL. for "Dasyornis, 
< Gr. Saavc, thick, dense, hairy (= L. densits, 
dense), + 6pvif, a bird.] A genus of fossil 
Eocene birds of large size combining dinor- 
nithic and struthious characters, based by R. 
Owen upon a fragmentary skull from the island 
of Sheppey in England. 
dass 1 (das), . See dess. 
dass'-' (das), n. [A var. of dais.} A small land- 
ing-place. [Scotch.] 
They soon reached a little dass in the middle of ... 
a small landing place. Hogg, Brownie, ii. 61. 
dassy (das'i), n.; pi. dassies (-iz). [Native 
name.] The southern hyrax or rock-rabbit of 
the Cape of Good Hope, Hyrax capensis. 
dastard (das'tard), n. and a. [< ME. dastard, 
a dullard, prob. formed, with suffix -ard, from 
a Scand. base repr. by Icel. dcestr, exhausted, 
breathless (= Sw. dial, dast, weary), pp. of 
d<esa, groan, lose breath from exhaustion ; Icel. 
dasadhr, exhausted, pp. of danask, become ex- 
hausted, reflexive of "dasa = Sw. dasa, lie idle, 
whence E. daze, q. v. Cf. OD. dasacrt, daa- 
1460 
xinirtlt, a fool, prob. of same origin. See also 
daftiberd.} I. n. If. A dullard; a simpleton. 
Daffe, or dastard, or he that spekythe not yn tyme, ori- 
durus . Dastard, or dullarde, duribuctius. 
Prompt. Parv. 
Dastarde, [F.] estourdy, butarin. Palsgrave. 
2. A base coward; a poltroon; one who mean- 
ly shrinks from danger, or who performs mali- 
cious actions in a cowardly, sneaking manner. 
This dastard, at the battle of Patay, . . . 
Before we met, or that a stroke was given, 
Like to a trusty squire did run away. 
Shak., 1 Hen. VI., iv. 1. 
But ill the dastard kept his oath, 
Whose cowardice hath undone us Ixith. 
Scott, Marmion, ii. 02. 
= Syn. 2. Poltroon, Craven, etc. See coward. 
II. . Characterized by base cowardice; 
meanly shrinking from danger, or from the 
consequences of malicious acts. 
Curse on their dastard souls! Addison. 
At this paltry price did the dastard prince consent to 
stay his arm at the only moment when it could be used ef- 
fectively for his country. Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., i. 13. 
dastard (das'tard), v. t. [< dastard, n.} 1. To 
make dastard; intimidate; dispirit. 
There is another man within me, that's angry with me, 
rebukes, commands, and dastards me. 
Sir T. Brovme, Keligio Medici, ii. 7. 
Dastards manly souls with hope and fear. 
Dryden, Indian Emperor, ii. 2. 
2. To call one dastard or coward. [Rare in 
both uses.] 
dastardicet (das'tar-dis), . [< dastard + 
-ice, after cowardice.} Cowardice; dastardli- 
ness. 
I was upbraided with ingratitude, dastardice, and all 
my difficulties with my angel charged upon myself, for 
want of following my blows. 
Richardson, Clarissa Harlowe, vi. 40. 
dastardize (das'tar-diz), v. t.; pret. and pp. 
dastardiscd, ppr. dastardising. [< dastard + 
-i:e.} To make dastard ; cow. [Rare.] 
I believe it is not in the Power of Plowden to dastardize 
or cow your Spirits until you have overcome him. 
Iloieell, Letters, I. i. 9. 
For if he liv'd, and we were conquerors, 
He had such things to urge against our marriage 
As, now declar'd, would blunt my sword in battle, 
And dastardize my courage. 
Dryden, Don Sebastian, ii. 2. 
dastardliness (das'tard-li-nes), n. Cowardli- 
ness. 
dastardly (das'tard-li), . Characterized by 
gross cowardice ;" meanly timid ; base ; sneak- 
ing. 
Brawl and clamour is so arrant a mark of a dastardly 
wretch that he does as good as call himself so that uses 
it. Sir R. L'Kstrange. 
If Dryden is never dastardly, as Pope often was, so also 
he never wrote anything so maliciously depreciatory as 
Pope's unprovoked attack on Addison. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 1st ser., p. 70. 
dastardness (das'tard-nes), 11. The character 
of a dastard; base timidity. [Rare.] 
dastardy (das'tar-di), n. [< dastard + -y.~] 
Dastardliness; base cowardice. [Rare.] 
dasturi (dus-to'ri), n. [< Hind, dasturi, per- 
quisites, commission, < dastur, custom, usage, 
customary fee, < Pers. dastiir, a custom.] The 
commission, gratuity, or bribe surreptitiously 
paid by native dealers and others in India to 
agents, servants, and employees, in order to 
secure the custom of their masters. Also spell- 
ed diistoori. 
No doubt presents were received from native contrac- 
tors, and du-xtoori or commission from native dealers and 
manufacturers. J. T. Wheeler, Short Hist. India, p. 327. 
daswet, ' See daze. 
Dasya (das'i-a), n. [NL., < Gr. <5am>f, thick, 
dense, shaggy, hairy, rough, = L. densus, thick : 
see dense.} A genus of marine algffi, belonging 
to the order Floridece. The fronds are bright-red, fili- 
form or compressed, branching, and polysiphonous. The 
genus is especially characterized by the monosiphonous 
filaments which clothe the frond or its upper parts, and in 
which the tetraspores are borne in regular rows. There 
are about 70 species, mostly tropical, many occurring on 
the coast of Australia. Dasya elegans is a beautiful spe- 
cies, common in the United States, from Cape Cod south- 
ward, and in the Adriatic sea ; it is called chenille. 
dasyberdt, See dasibcrd. 
Dasygastrse (das-i-gas'tre), n. pi. [NL.. < Gr. 
iamf, shaggy, hairy, + yatni/p, belly.] In La- 
treille's system of classification, a group of 
Apiarice or bees, having the under side of the 
abdomen of the female hairy, as in the genera 
Megachile, AntMdium, etc. The mason-bees 
and leaf-cutter bees belong to this group. Also 
written Dasygastrea;, Dasygastrice. 
Dasylirion (das-i-lir'i-on), n. [NL., < Gr. faaif, 
thick, dense, + faipiov, a lily. The plants are 
Dasyproctidae 
lily-like, with numerous crowded leaves.] A 
liliaceous genus of Mexico and adjacent parts 
of the United States, allied to Yucca, with a 
dense rosette of rigid, linear, often spinosely 
toothed leaves, and a tall stem bearing a pani- 
cle of small white flowers. There are nearly 20 
species, some of which are occasionally culti- 
vated for ornament. 
dasymeter (da-sim'e-t6r), n. [< Gr. Saavc, thick, 
dense, -t- ftfr/ioi', measure.] An instrument de- 
signed for testing the density of gases. See 
manometer. 
Dasyornis (das-i-ftr'nis), n. [NL. (Vigors and 
Horsfield, 1826), < Gr. Saaif, shaggy, hairy, + 
dpvif, a bird.] A genus of dentirostral oscine 
passerine birds of the malurine group, inhabit- 
ing Australia, New Zealand, Africa, etc. The 
species composing the genus as originally proposed are 
now distributed iii the genera Sphenma and Megaluruf 
(or Sphentxacux). 
Dasypaedes (das-i-pe'dez), n. [NL., < Gr. AKTI'T, 
rough, hairy, + Traif, pi. iro/rfrf, child. Coined 
by Sundevall in 1873 as an alternative to Ptilo- 
pcedcs, this being liable to confusion with Psilo- 
padcs.} Same as Ptilopa-des. 
dasypsedic (das-i-pe'dik), a. [As Dasypaides + 
-ic.} Same as ptilopo'dic. 
Dasypeltidae (das-i-pel'ti-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Daxypcltis + -ida:.} The Dasypeltitia: regarded 
as a separate family: same as Ehaclnodontida'. 
Dasypeltinae (das"i-pel-ti'ne), . pi. [NL., < 
Uaxypcltix + -ina:~\ A subfamily of Colubrida:, 
typified by the genus Uasypeltis, having the 
body slender, the maxillary teeth few and rndi- 
mental, and the hypapophyses of several ver- 
tebrae piercing the throat and capped with 
enamel, thus forming a series of esophageal 
teeth. From this remarkable structure the group is also 
called Jihackiodontidce, after the genus Rhachiodon, one 
of the several synonyms of Dasyiirltis. Besides Dasypel- 
tis, the subfamily includes the genus Elaehistodan. 
Dasypeltis (das-i-pel'tis), n. [NL., < Gr. Aaovc,, 
thick, dense, + jrAm a light shield.] The typ- 
ical genus of the family Uasypeltidai. D. scabra 
is an African species. Also Anodon, Diodon, 
and Rliachiodon (which see). 
dasyphyllous (das-i-fil'us), a. [< Gr. <5am>f, 
hairy, + <piMov = L. folium, leaf.] In bot., 
having woolly or hairy leaves. 
Dasypldae (da-sip'i-de), . pi. [NL.] Same as 
Dnxypodidd*. 
dasypode (das'i-pod), . [< Dasypus (Da*y- 
pod-) : see Dasyi>us.} An animal of the family 
Dasypodidte; an armadillo. Also dasyjnde. 
dasypodid (da-sip'o-did), . An edentate of 
the family Dasypodida;. 
Dasypodidae (das-i-pod'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Dasypus (-pod-) + -idte.} A South American 
family of loricate edentate quadrupeds; the 
armadillos. It was formerly conterminous with the 
suborder Loricata of Edentata ; it is now, by the exclu- 
sion of Tatuxiidce and Chlamydopltoridce, restricted to the 
typical armadillos, having the fore toes variously modified 
and disproportionate in length to one another, the second 
being the longest, the third, fourth, and fifth variously 
shortened ; the head broad behind ; and the ears far apart. 
There are four subfamilies : Dasypodinae (the encouberts), 
Xt'iiui-iiicr (tile kabassous), PHimodontince (the kabalas- 
sous), and I'olypeutina? (the apars). Also Da*yi>i<lti'. 
Dasypodinae (das"i-po-di'ne), n. pi. [NL., < 
Dasypus (-pod-) + -ina;.} The typical subfamily 
of the Dasypodida;, containing the encoubert, 
peludo, etc. They have the anterior and posterior di- 
visions of the carapace well marked ; the tail with a zon- 
lllar sheath ; the teeth moderate in number (9 or 10 on 
each side above and below) ; and the first to the third 
metacarpal regularly graduated in length, the third be- 
ing the longest, and the fourth and fifth much shortened. 
The genera are Dainjpus and Euphracttts. See cuts under 
apar and armnrli/lu. 
dasyppdine (da-sip'o-din), a. and n. I. a. 
Pertaining to or having the characters of the 
])a.i>ii>odin(r. 
It. . One of the Dasypodina', as the peludo, 
T)ati>/j) i/s rilloxiif. 
Dasyprocta (das-i-prok'ta), n. [NL., < Gr. fia- 
ai'irpuKToc,, with hairy buttocks, < iaai'f, hairy, 
+ irpuKTOf, the buttocks.] The typical genus 
of the family Dasyproctida: It includes the whole 
of the family except the pacas, and is characterized by 
having only 3 developed toes on the hind feet. It com- 
prehends all the agoutis and the aeouchy, as the yellow- 
rumped agouti (D. agouti), Azara's agouti (D. azara-), and 
the aeouchy (D. aanichy). D. acovchy inhabits some of 
the West Indies as well as South America ; the other spe- 
cies of the genus are confined to South America. See cuts 
under acoitrfui and <u:onti. 
dasyproctid (das-i-prok'tid), ?i. A rodent of 
the family Dasyproctida. 
Dasyproctidae (dw-i-prok'ti-de), n. pi. [NL., 
< DitKiiprortd + -iil(C.} A family of simplici- 
dent rodents, of the hystricine series, consist- 
ing of the two genera Ccelogcnys and Dasyprocta, 
