desk 
The name is sometimes extended to the whole structure 
or erection to which such a sloping frame is attached, as 
in the Church of England to the stall from which the morn- 
ing and evening services are read, in Scotch churches to 
the stall of the precentor, and in the United States to the 
pulpit or the lectern in a church. 
He is drawn leaning on a denfc, with his Bible before 
him. /. Walton, Complete Angler. 
Who first invented work, and bound the free 
And holiday-rejoicing spirit down . . . 
To that dry drudgery at the desk's dead wood ? 
Lamb, Work. 
The pulpit, or as it is here [in Connecticut] called, the 
desk, was filled by three, if not four, Clergymen. 
Kendall, Travels, I. 4. 
They are common to every species of oratory, though of 
rarer nse in the desk. Adams, Lectures on Rhetoric. 
Roll-top desk. Same as cylinder-desk. 
deskt (desk), v. t. [< desk, .] To shut up in 
or as if in a desk; treasure up. [Kare.] 
In a walnut shell was desked. 
T. Tomkis (?), Albumazar, i. 3. 
Or if you into some blind convent fly, 
Yon're iiiquisitiou'd strait for heresy, 
Unless your daring frontispiece can tell 
News of a relic or brave miracle ; 
Then yon are entertained and deskt up by 
Our Ladle's psalter and the rosary. 
John Hall, Poems, p. 2. 
desk-cloth (desk'kloth), n. Eccles., the hang- 
ing of the lectern. 
desk-work (desk'wferk), n. Work done at a 
desk ; habitual writing, as that of a clerk or a 
literary man. 
All my poor scrapings from a dozen years 
Of dust and deskwurk. Tennyson, Sea Dreams. 
desma (des'ma), . ; pi. desmata (-ma-ta). [NL., 
< Gr. Ma/ia, a band, < ielv, bind.] " A' kind of 
sponge-spicule of polyaxial or irregular figure. 
See the extract. 
Amongst one group of Li thi.stid sponges (Rhabdocrepi- 
da) the normal growth of a strongyle is arrested at an 
early stage ; it then serves as a nucleus upon which fur- 
ther silica is deposited, and in such a manner as to pro- 
duce a very irregularly branching sclere or desma, within 
which the fundamental strongyle can be seen enclosed. 
Encyc. Brit., XXII. 417. 
desmachymatous (des-ma-ki'ma-tus), a. [< 
desmacltyme (-chymat-) + "-ons.] Connective, 
as a sponge-tissue ; specifically, of or pertaining 
to desmachyme : as, a desmachymatous sheath. 
Sollas. 
desmachyme (des'ma-kim), n. [< Gr. Sea/ta, a 
bond, fetter, 4- riy/df, juice, xi't' a ( r -), a liquid : 
see chyme*-.] The proper connective tissue o 
sponges, arising from desmacytes. 
Desmacidon (des-mas'i-don), .. [NL.] The 
typical genus of the family Desmacidonidce. 
Eowerbantc, 1862. 
Desmacidonidse (des-ruas-i-don'i-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < Desmacidon + -idle.'] A family of ma- 
rine sponges, of the order Cornacuspongia;, typ- 
ified by the genus Desmacidon, having diversi- 
form megascleres and chelato mioroscleres. 
The genera are numerous, and the family is 
divided into the subfamilies Esperellinte and 
Mctyoninx. 
desmacyte (des'ma-sit), n. [< Gr. Sia/ia, a band, 
fetter, + Kiroc, a hollow.] One of the cells of 
connective tissue which occur in most sponges. 
Thcyare usually long fusiform bodies, consisting of acTear, 
colorless, and often minutely flbrillated sheath, surround- 
ing a highly refractive axial fiber, which is deeply stained 
by reagents. In some cases the desmacyte is simply a 
nucleated fusiform cell, with granular contents, flbrillated 
toward the ends. 
desman (des'man), . [Also sometimes dxs- 
man; = F. desman = G. desman, < Sw. desman- 
rdtta, a desman, lit. 'musk-rat,' < desman, musk ; 
cf . Dan. desintr, musk ; Icel. des, musk, in comp. 
des-hus (Cleasby), musk-box, smelling-box (Ims, 
1562 
(rdtta, rat) being ignored in the E., F., and G. 
word.] 1. A musk-shrew or musk-rat: the 
name of two distinct species 'of aquatic in- 
sectivorous mammals of the genus Hyogale or 
Galemys, constituting the subfamily Myogalmce 
(which see). The Muscovitic desman, M. monchata or 
muiscovitica, is common on the Volga and the Don ; it is 
about 8 inches long, swims and dives with great facility, 
and lives in holes in the banks. The Pyrenean desman, 
31. pyrenaica, is a smaller species with a relatively longer 
tail, found in southwestern Europe. 
2. [_cap.~\ [NL.] A generic name of the musk- 
shrews. Lacepede. 
desmata, n. Plural of desma. 
Desmia (des'mi-a), n. [NL. (cf. Dasmia for 
Desmia), < Gr. feo/itot;, binding, bound, < 6eo/i6t;, 
a band, < <!i>, bind.] 1. A genus of the lepi- 
dopterous family Pyralida;, characterized chief- 
ly by the elbowed or knotted antennas of the 
male. Of the two described North American species, 
the more familiar is l>. maculalis, which is nearly one inch 
Crape-leaf Folder (Desmia maculalis}. 
I, caterpillar in folded leaf: 2, head and anterior joints, enlarged ; 
3, chrysalis ; 4, male moth, and 5, female moth, natural size. 
in expanse of wings. The general color is brownish black, 
with a metallic luster. The fore wings bear two large 
oval white spots, ami the hind wings one, usually divided 
in the female. The larva folds grape-leaves, and is known 
as the grape-leaf folder. 
2. A genus of coelenterates, of the family Tur- 
Unolidai. Edwards and Haime, 1848. 
desmid, desmidian (des'mid, des-mid'i-an), n. 
A plant of tho order Dcsmidiacece. 
Desmidiaceae, Desmidieae (des-mid-i-a'se-e, 
dos-mi-di'e-e), n. pi. [NL., < Desmidiitm (<'Gr. 
as if *deafiitiiov, dim. of Secfio^, a band, chain), 
the typical genus, + -acea;, -en;.] A natural 
order of microscopic unicellular fresh-water 
algee, belonging to the class Conjugata;. They 
are usually free, but sometimes united in chains which 
are embedded in mucilage. The cells are cylindrical or 
fusiform, and sometimes have horn-like processes; or 
the general ou 
divided, the pri 
symmetrical halves. Many of the forms are very beauti- 
pla 
the general outline is circular or elliptic and variously 
divided, the principal constriction in the middle forming 
symmetrical halves. Many of the forms are very beauti- 
ful. Reproduction takes place by cell-division at the mid- 
dle and by conjugation. Demnidiaceai differ from Dialo- 
inacecs in their green color and the absence of silex. See 
cut under Closterium. 
desmidian, n. See desmid. 
Desmidieae, n. pi. See Desmidiaceae. 
desmidiologist (des-mid-i-ol'o-jist), n. [< des- 
midiology + -ist.~] A botanist who has made a 
special study of the Desmidiacece. 
desmidiology (des-mid-i-ol'o-ji), n. [< NL. 
'. -/W 
Muscovitic Desman (Myofale moschata). 
house, case), des-kottr (Haldorsen), 'musk-cat ' 
civet-cat (kottr, cat), des-lygt (Haldorsen), tho 
smell of musk (lygt, prop, lykt, = Dan. lugt, 
smell); the second element of the Sw. name 
, . 
Desmidium (see Desmidiaceai) + Gr. , 
/.kyuv, speak: se&-ology.] The scientific study 
of Desmidiacece. 
desmine (des'min), n. [< Gr. tieapoc, a band, 
ligament, also, as ticoyij?, a bundle (< Stlv, bind), 
+ -ine 2 .] A zeolitic mineral commonly occur- 
ring in tufts or bundles of crystals. Also called 
stilbite (which see). 
Desmiospermeae (des"mi-o-sper'me-e), n. pi 
[NL., < Gr. dtoyuof, binding (see Desmia), + 
cTrepfia, seed, + -eo;.] A division of algffi, of 
the order Floridece, in which the spores are ar- 
ranged in definite series with respect to a pla- 
centa or common point of attachment. 
desmitis (des-ml'tis), n. [NL., < Gr. dca/i6f, a 
band, ligament, + -itis.] Inpathol., inflamma- 
tion of a ligament. 
desmo-. [NL., etc., < Gr. df a/io-f , a band or bond, 
anything for binding or fastening, a halter, 
cable, strap, chain, etc., < delv, bind, fasten.] 
An element in compound words of Greek ori- 
gin, meaning a 'baud,' 'bond,' or 'ligament.' 
Desmodontes 
Desmobacteria (des"mo-bak-te'ri-fi), 11. pi. 
[NL., < Gr. tieafioc, a band, + /Soim^wo*. a staff 
(mod. bacterium, bacteria). ] A group of genera 
of filiform bacteria with elongated cylindrical 
joints, isolated, or united into more or less ex- 
tended chains. It includes the genera Bacillus, 
Leptotlirix, etc. 
Desmobrya (des-mob'ri-a), n. pi. [NL., < Gr. 
6safi6f, a band, chain, + Bpimi, a kind of mossy 
seaweed.] Ferns in which the fronds are pro- 
duced at the tip of the rootstock or caudex, and 
the stipes are continuous with it (not articu- 
lated). This is the case with most ferns ; but in the tribe 
represented by Polypodimii the stipes are articulated with 
the rootstock (eremobryoid). 
desmobryoid (des-mob'ri-oid), a. [< Desmobrya 
+ -oiW.] Resembling or having the characters 
of the Desmobrya. 
Desmodactyli (des-mo-dak'ti-H), n. pi. [NL., 
pi. of desmodactylus : see desmodactylous.] A 
name given by Forbes to the family Euryltemi- 
dte considered as a superfamily group of Pas- 
seres, and distinguished from all other Passcres 
(or Eleutlierodactyli) by having a strong band 
joining the muscles of the hind toe, as in many 
non-passerine birds. 
desmodactylous (des-mo-dak'ti-lus), a. [< NL. 
desmodactylus, < Gr. ta/i6f,.o, band, + idnru^of, 
finger, toe.] ' Having the flexor tendons of the 
toes bound together, as in the Desmodactyli: 
distinguished from cleutherodactylous. 
Desmodidae (des-mod'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Des- 
modus (stem prop. Desmodont-) + -ida;.] The 
Desmodontes as a family of bats. 
Desmodium (des-mo'di-um). n. [NL., < Gr. 
as if *<5fo-/iiic5i?f, like a chain, < (Sfir/iof, a chain, + 
ridoc, form. Cf. 
dcsmoid."} A ge- 
nus of legumi- 
nous plants,h crbs 
or shrubs, with 
pinnately trifoli- 
ate (rarely sim- 
ple) leaves, small 
flowers, and flat, 
deeply lobed and 
jointed pods. 
Each joint of the pod 
is one-seeded and 
usually covered with 
minute hooked hairs. 
There are about 125 Teleraph-plant(.Dvrfi>/<>,i.r;. 
species, tropical in 
Asia, ami also extra-tropical in America, Africa, and Aus- 
tralia. The United States flora includes 35 species. The 
most remarkable member of the genus is an Indian spe- 
cies, D. yyrans, the telegraph-plant, so called from the 
spontaneous movement of its leaflets. 
desmodont (des'mo-dont), o. and n. I. a. In 
conch., of or pertaining to the Desmodonta. 
II. n. One of the Desmodonta. 
Desmodonta (des-mo-don'ta), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. cSfoyio'f, a band, + Molf (odour-) = E. tooth,"] 
A group or order of bivalve mollusks, with the 
hinge-teeth absent or irregular (in the latter 
case connected by the ligamental processes), 
two equal muscular impressions or ciboria, and 
a sinuate pallial lino. It includes the families 
Myid<e, Anatinidce, Mactrida; Solenida; etc. 
Desmodontes (des-mo-don'tez), 11. pi. [NL., 
pi. of Desmodus. Cf. Dcsmodidce.'] A group of 
Central and South American bats, represented 
by the genera Desmodus and Dij>liyllii, and some- 
times elevated to the rank of a 
family, Desmodidic. They have a 
long intestine-like ca?cal diverticnlum 
of the stomach, into which the blood 
that they suck flows and in which it 
is stored ; incisors 1 in each upper and 
2 in each lower half-jaw, the upper 
Teeth of Blood- 
sucking Bat (Desmo- 
dus rn/its), much 
enlarged. 
pair being very 
large and trench- 
ant, and mak- 
ing with the 
lower an incised 
or punctured 
wound; the mo- 
lars 1 in each half- 
jaw (in jpuiAyila) 
or none (in Des- 
modus) ; no tail ; 
small Interfemo- 
ral membrane ; a 
short calcar or 
none ; and a short 
conical snout 
with distinct 
nose-leaf. The 
bats of this re- 
markable group 
True Vampire, or Blood-sucking Bat 
(Vtsmofiits mjus]. 
