drab 
II. a. Of a yellowish-gray color, like the 
cloth so called. 
drab ;t (drab), M. [Origin obscure.] A kind of 
wooden box used in salt-works for holding the 
salt when taken out of the boiling-pans. Its 
bottom is shelving or inclining, that the water 
may drain off. 
Draba (dra'bji), n. [NL., < Gr. Apafin, a plant, 
l.i'/iiitiinii Draba.] A genus of cruciferous 
plants, low herbaceous perennials, or rarely an- 
nuals, often cespitose, distinguished by ovate 
or oblong many-seeded pods with flat nerve- 
less valves parallel to the broad septum. There 
are ahoitt 100 species, mostly natives of the colder ami 
mountainous regions of the northern hemisphere, of 
which SO are found in North America, chicliy in the west- 
ern ranges of mountains and in arctic regions. The whit- 
low-grass of Europe, D. MTM, abo Introduced into some 
parts of the United .States, is a small winter annual and 
one of the earliest spring flowers. 
drabbert (drab'er), n. [< drafti, v., + -erl.] 
One who keeps company with drabs. 
I well know him 
For a most insatiate drabber. 
Maanniirr, City Madam, iv. 2. 
drabbets (draVets), n. [Prob. ult. < F. dra/i, 
cloth ; cf. rfr6 2 .] A coarse linen fabric or 
duck made at Barnsley in England. 
drabbing (drab'ing), n. [Verbal n. of draft 1 , v. ] 
The practice of associating with strumpets, or 
drabs. 
Which of all the virtues 
(But dntnkenness, and drabbing, thy two morals) 
llave not I reach'd? 
Beau, and Ft., Four Plays in One. 
<l rd HI : see draw.] 
Obverse. Reverse. 
Drachma of Phxstus in Crete, about 400 B. C. 
struck on the /Eginettc system. British Mu. 
seum. ( Size of the original. > 
drabbishi (draVish), a. [< drafti + -w/ 
ing the qualities of a drab ; sluttish. 
Hav- 
I raarkte the drabbi*he, sorcerers, 
And harde their dismal! spell. 
Dranl, it. of Horace's Satires, i. 8. 
drabbish a (drab'ish), a. [< drafts + 
Somewhat of the color of drab. 
drabble (drab'l), v. ; pret. and pp. drabbled, 
ppr. drabbling. [< ME. drabelen, drablen, also 
dravelen (and in comp. bedrabelen, bidravelen, 
bedrabble), slabber, soil, drabble, = LG. draft- 
beln, slaver, dribble, = Dan. drme, twaddle, 
drivel. Another form of drireft and dribble 2 . 
Prob. ult. connected with draft 1 .] I. trans. To 
draggle ; make dirty, as by dragging in mud and 
water ; wet and befoul : as, to drabble a gown 
or a cloak. 
II. intrans. To fish for barbels with a rod 
and a long line passed through a piece of lead. 
drabble (drab'l), . [< drabble, >.] Ragged 
and dirty people collectively ; rabble. 
He thought some Presbyterian rabble 
In test-repealing spite were come to flout him, 
Or some fierce Alethodistic drabble. 
Wolcot (Peter Pindar). 
drabbler (drab'lfer), n. [Also written drabler; 
appar. < drabble, u.] Naut., in sloops and schoon- 
ers, a small additional sail, sometimes laced to 
the bottom of a bonnet (which is itself an ad- 
ditional sail) on a square sail, to give it a 
greater depth or more drop. 
And took our drablers from our bonnets straight, 
And severed our bonnet* from the courses. 
Gretnc and Lodge, Looking Glass for Loud, and Eng. 
drabbletailt (drab'1-tal), n. A slattern. 
Dracaena (dra-se'na), n. [NL., named with 
reference to its producing the resin called drag- 
on's-blood ; < LL. dracaiHa, a she-dragon, < Gr. 
fpdnaiva, fern, of fpanuv, a serpent, a dragon.] A 
genus of liliaceous trees, natives of the tropical 
regions of Af- 
rica, Asia, and 
Polynesia, in- 
cluding about 
35 species. The 
leaves are large, 
lanceolate, and 
entire, often 
somewhat fleshy, 
and are borne in 
tuft- at the ends 
of the branches. 
The flowers are 
small and the 
fruit is barrnte. 
Various species 
are cultivated in 
peenhouses and : * ' ; V -^ 
in ornamental .WT/k^K/ iOMV;.. 
grounds on ac- 
comitof their full, 
age anil tropical 
habit, though 
snmr that are 
known under the name belong rather to the related ge- 
nus Curdylinc. The most remarkable species is the drag- 
on-tree, D. Draco, of the Canary Islands, which yields a 
resin called dragon's-blood. It is of rapid growth, and at- 
tains sometimes a gigantic size. A famous tree at Oro- 
' 
Dragon-tree (Dracana Draco). 
1753 
tava, on Tcnerirfc, which was destroyed by a hurrirane In 
18(17, was aUut 7.") f< -t liU'h and 79 feet in etrcumf- 
near tin' I, ;(-', unit was of nearly the name size in 140*2. 
dracanth, . [See <lmijnii<u>>, tragaetmtk.'] Gum 
tniKacuiith. See tragacantli. 
drachm (drum), . Same as drachma and drm. 
drachma (drak'ma), . ; pi. drachma, drachmas 
(-me, -mSz). [L.^ also rarely dracliuma, < Gr. 
ilpaxp'i, later also dpay/ir/, dial, iapxpii, ddpxt ul i 
an Attic weight, a Grecian silver coin, lit. as 
much as oue can hold in the hand, a handful ; 
cf. Spaytui, a handful, a sheaf, ipa$, a handful, a 
measure so called, < tpaaatoBai (t/ "Span), grasp, 
take by handfuls. The E. forms are drachm, 
1. The principal silver coin 
of the ancient 
Greeks. The 
drachma coined 
according to the 
Attic weight- 
system weighed 
(normal)},) 67.4 
grains ; the 
drachma of the 
.Kginrtic sys- 
tem weighed 97 
grains; of the 
tineco - Asiatic, 
56 grains ; of 
the Rhodian, 60 
grains : of the Babylonic, 84 grains ; and of the Persian, 
88 grains. Roughly speaking, the average value of the 
ancient drachma may be said to have been about the same 
aa that of the modern one. or the French franc, but its 
purchasing power was considerably greater. 
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart, 
And drop my blood for drachmas. Shak., J. C., Iv. 3. 
There's a drachm to purchase gingerbread for thy muse. 
JS. Jotaun, Poetaster, iv. 1. 
The only cartel I remember In ancient history is that 
between Demetrius Poliorcetes and the Rhodians, when 
it was agreed that a free citizen should be restored for 
1000 drachmas, and a slave bearing arms for 500. 
Hunte, Essays, if. 11. 
2. A silver coin of the modern kingdom of 
Greece, by law of the same value as the French 
franc, equal to 19.3 United States cents. It is 
divided into 100 lepta. 3. A weight among 
the ancient Greeks, being that of the silver 
coin. See dram. 
dracina, dracine (dra-si'na, dra'sin), n. [NL. 
dracina, < L. draco, dragon, in reference to 
dragon's blood.] The red resin of the substance 
called dragon's-blood, much used to color var- 
nishes. Also called draconin. 
Draco (dra'ko), . [L. draco (dracon-), < Gr. 
Spaxuv (Spanovr-), a serpent, a dragon, a constel- 
lation so called, a sea-fish, etc. : see dragon and 
drake 2 .'] 1. One of the ancient northern con- 
stellations, the Dragon. 2. [I. c.] A luminous 
exhalation from marshy grounds. Imp. Diet. 
3. A genus of old-world acrodont lizards, of the 
family Agamidce, having a parachute formed of 
the integument stretched over extended hinder 
ribs, by means of which the animal protracts 
its leaps into a kind of flight. Dram volans, 
of the Malay peninsula, is the common flying- 
lizard or dragon. See dragon, 2. 
Dracocephaium (dra-ko-sef'a-lum), n. [NL., 
< Gr. dpaxuv, a dragon, + Ke<fa).r/, head : in ref- 
erence to the shape of the corolla.] A genus 
of labiate plants, of about 30 species, natives of 
the Mediterranean region and temperate Asia, 
with a single species indigenous to North Amer- 
ica. It is very nearly related to Xepeta. A few species 
are occasionally cultivated for their showy flowers or the 
fragrance of the foliage. D. Canaricnte has been called 
sweet balm or balm of Gilead. A common name for plants 
of the genus is dragon't-head. 
Draconian (dra-ko'ni-an), a. Same as Draconic. 
Refraining from all Draconian legislation, they have 
put their faith in a system of ingenious checks and acorn- 
plicated formal procedure. D. M. Wallace, Russia, p. 206. 
Draconic (dra-kon'ik), a. [< L. Draco(n-), < Gr. 
\PUKUV (Apaxoir-), a person's name, < ipaxuv, 
a serpent, dragon: see Draco, dragon."] 1. Of 
or pertaining to Draco, archon of Athens in or 
about 621 B. c., and one of the founders of the 
enlightened Attic polity ; or resembling in se- 
verity the code of laws said to have been es- 
tablished by him, in which he prescribed the 
penalty of death for nearly all crimes for 
smaller crimes because they merited it, and 
for greater because he knew of no penalty more 
severe. Hence 2. Rigorous : applied to any 
extremely severe, harsh, or oppressive laws. 
3. Relating to the constellation Draco. 
Draconlcally (dra-kon'i-kal-i), adv. In a Dra- 
conic manner; severely; rigorously. 
draconin (drak 6-nin), n. Same as dracina. 
Draconinae (drak-o-ni'ne), . /)/. [XL., < Dra- 
c/i(n-) + -I/ice.] A subfamily of lizards, of 
which the genus Draco is the type. They have 
drafflesacked 
wing-like lateral expansions of the intrgunient, supported 
dy prolonged i ii>-, a meyderale mouth, and Kmall conic In- 
cisors. Over 20 species are found in India and adjoining 
countries. See cut under ill 
draconitest, . [< L. draco(n-), a dragon, + 
-ite.] A dragon-stone. 
llaue In your rings cytlier a Hmaragd, a Saphlre, or a 
Dracanite, which you shall heare for an ornament : for 
in stones, as also in hearl>es, there is great elflcacle. 
Haber* Book (K. K. T. *.), p. 217. 
draconitic(drak-o-nit'ik), a. Sameasdra<-o/i<'. 
Draconoidea (drak-o-noi'de-S), n. pi. [NL., < 
Draco(n-) + -oidea.J A family of lizards, of 
which the genus Draco is the type : now usual- 
ly merged in Agamida:. 
dracontiasis (drak-on-ti'a-sis), . [NL., < Gr. 
dpanuv (ipanovr-), dragon," + -KT/f : see -iasis.] 
In pathol., the presence in the tissues of the 
Dracunculus medinenxis, and the morbid condi- 
tions produced by it. See Dracunculus, 3. 
dracontic (dra-kon'tik), a. [< NL. "draconti- 
cus, < Gr. as if "A/xucovriKOf, < o/>aiiuv (Spanavr-), 
dragon; the dragon's head, L. caput draconis, 
being a name formerly given to one of the 
nodes of the lunar orbit.] Pertaining to the 
nodes of the moon's orbit (called the dragon's 
headandtail). A.\sodraconitic.- Dracontic month, 
the time which the moon takes in making a revolution 
from a node back to that node. On the average, it is 27 
days 5 hours 5 minutes 36 seconds, being about 2} hours 
shorter than a tropical or periodical month. 
dracontine (dra-kon'tin), a. [< Gr. f/Mnov (fpa- 
KOVT-), a dragon, + -t'ne 1 .] Belonging to or of 
the character of a dragon. 
Dracontium (dra-kon'shi-um), n. [NL., < Gr. 
opoKovr/ov, a plant of the arum kind, < ipdnuv 
(SpuKovr-), a dragon; "the spots or streaks of 
the plant resembling those of the dragon."] 1 . 
A genus of araceous plants, natives of tropical 
America. There are & or 6 species, which are among 
the largest of the order. They have a milky juice, a large 
tuberous root, a single very large 3-parted leaf, and a tall 
peduncle bearing the very fetid flower. The root of D. 
yolypttyllum is said to tie used as a remedy for snake-bites 
and as an emmenagogue. 
2. [I. r.l The pharmaceutical name for the 
root of the skunk-cabbage, Symplocarpus fati- 
dus (sometimes called Dracontium fcetidum). 
The root is used as an acrid irritant, as an an- 
tispasmodic, etc. 
Dracunculus (dra-kun'ku-lus), n. [L., dim. 
of draco(ii-), dragon, serpent : see Draco, drag- 
on.'] 1. An herbaceous genus of the natural 
order Aracea, including two species of south- 
ern Europe and the Canary islands. The green 
dragon, D. vulfjarig, with pedately divided leaves and 
spotted stems, Is sometimes cultivated, but its large green 
(lowers (purple within) are very fetid. 
2. [/. c.] A dragonet, or goby, of the genus 
Callionymus. 3. A genus of worms. D. (Fila- 
ria) ined tnen*t#, the guinea-worm, a fine, thread-like worm 
60 centimeters to 1 meter long, inhabits In its larval con- 
dition certain small crustaceans (cyclopti), enters the hu- 
man stomach in drinking- water, and finds its way to the 
subcutaneous regions, especially of the legs and feet, 
where it develops and causes abscesses. It is very common 
in tropical Asia and Africa. 
dradt. Obsolete preterit and past participle of 
dread. 
dradge (draj), . Same as dredge*. 
draff (draf), n. [Also formerly sometimes 
draugh, and by extension draft, draught; < ME. 
draf, refuse, esp. refuse of grain, chaff, husks 
(not in AS.), = D. draf, swill, hog's wash, cf. 
draft, drabbe, dregs, lees, grounds, = OHG. trc- 
bir, MHG. treber, G. treber, traber, pi., grains, 
husks, = Icel. draf, draff, husks, = Sw. draf, 
grains, = Dan. drav, dregs, lees. Perhaps of 
Celtic origin : cf . Ir. draft* = Gael, drabh, draff, 
refuse. Perhaps connected with draft 1 , q. v.] 
Refuse ; lees ; dregs ; the wash or swill given 
to swine ; specifically, the refuse of malt which 
has been used in brewing or distilling, given to 
swine and cows. Also called brewers' grains. 
Defyle not thy lips with eating much, as a Pigge eating 
drafe. Babeci Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 77. 
I had a hundred and fifty tattered prodigals, lately come 
from swine-keeping, from eating draff and husks. 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV., iv. 2. 
No, give them grains their nil, 
Husks, draff In drink and swill. 
B. Joruon, Ode to Himself. 
Nothing-worth, 
Mere chaff and draf, much better burnt. 
Tennymn, The Epic. 
drafosht (draf'ish), a. [< draff + -i**i.] Like 
draff; draffy; worthless. 
The dmjfish declaracyons of my lordc Boner, with such 
other dirty dryselynges of Antichrist. 
Bp. Bale, A Course at the Romyshe Foxe (1543), foL 97 b. 
drafflesackedt (draf'1-sakt), a. Filled with 
draff. Becon, Works, n. 591 (Parker Soc.), 
noted in N. and Q., 7th ser., V. 302. 
