Part 259

Dib, n. 1. One of the small bones in the knee joints of sheep uniting the bones above and below the joints.

2. pl. A child's game, played with dib bones.

Di*ba"sic (?), a. [Pref. di- + basic.] (Chem.) Having two acid hydrogen atoms capable of replacement by basic atoms or radicals, in forming salts; bibasic; -- said of acids, as oxalic or sulphuric acids. Cf. Diacid, Bibasic.

In the case of certain acids dibasic and divalent are not synonymous; as, tartaric acid is tetravalent and dibasic, lactic acid is divalent but monobasic.

Di`ba*sic"i*ty (?), n. (Chem.) The property or condition of being dibasic.

Dib"ber (?), n. A dibble. Halliwell.

Dib"ble (?), n. [See Dibble, v. i.] A pointed implement used to make holes in the ground in which no set out plants or to plant seeds.

Dib"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dibbled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dibbling (?).] [Freq. of Prov. E. dib, for dip to thrust in. See Dip.] To dib or dip frequently, as in angling. Walton.

Dib"ble, v. t. 1. To plant with a dibble; to make holes in (soil) with a dibble, for planting.

2. To make holes or indentations in, as if with a dibble.

The clayey soil around it was dibbled thick at the time by the tiny hoofs of sheep.

H. Miller.

Dib"bler (?), n. One who, or that which, dibbles, or makes holes in the ground for seed.

||Di*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; gills.] (Zoöl.) An order of cephalopods which includes those with two gills, an apparatus for emitting an inky fluid, and either eight or ten cephalic arms bearing suckers or hooks, as the octopi and squids. See Cephalopoda.

Di*bran"chi*ate (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having two gills. -- n. One of the Dibranchiata.

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Dibs (?), n. A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the East. Johnston.

Dib"stone` (?; 110), n. A pebble used in a child's game called dibstones. Locke.

Di*bu"tyl (?), n. [Pref. di- + butyl.] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C8H18, of the marsh-gas series, being one of several octanes, and consisting of two butyl radicals. Cf. Octane.

Di*ca"cious (?), a. [L. dicax, dicacis, fr. dicere to say.] Talkative; pert; saucy. [Obs.]

Di*cac"i*ty (?), n. [L. dicacitas: cf. F. dicacité. See Dicacious.] Pertness; sauciness. [Obs.]

Di*cal"cic (?), a. [Pref. di- + calcic.] (Chem.) Having two atoms or equivalents of calcium to the molecule.

Di`car*bon"ic (?), a. [Pref. di- + carbonic.] (Chem.) Containing two carbon residues, or two carboxyl or radicals; as, oxalic acid is a dicarbonic acid.

Di"cast (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to judge, &?; right, judgment, justice.] A functionary in ancient Athens answering nearly to the modern juryman.

Di*cas"ter*y (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; juryman. See Dicast.] A court of justice; judgment hall. [R.] J. S. Mill.

Dice (?), n.; pl. of Die. Small cubes used in gaming or in determining by chance; also, the game played with dice. See Die, n.

Dice coal, a kind of coal easily splitting into cubical fragments. Brande & C.

Dice, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Diced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dicing.] 1. To play games with dice.