Part 4

Dac*tyl`i*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. dakty`lios finger ring + -graphy.] (Fine Arts) (a) The art of writing or engraving upon gems. (b) In general, the literature or history of the art.

Dac*tyl`i*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. dakty`lios finger ring + -logy.] (Fine Arts) (a) That branch of archæology which has to do with gem engraving. (b) That branch of archæology which has to do with finger rings.

Dac*tyl"i*o*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. dakty`lios + -mancy.] Divination by means of finger rings.

Dac"tyl*ist (?), n. A writer of dactylic verse.

||Dac`tyl*i"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. da`ktylos finger + -itis.] (Med.) An inflammatory affection of the fingers. Gross.

Dac`tyl*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. da`ktylos finger + -logy.] The art of communicating ideas by certain movements and positions of the fingers; -- a method of conversing practiced by the deaf and dumb.

There are two different manual alphabets, the one- hand alphabet (which was perfected by Abbé de l'Epée, who died in 1789), and the two-hand alphabet. The latter was probably based on the manual alphabet published by George Dalgarus of Aberdeen, in 1680. See Illustration in Appendix.

Dac*tyl"o*man`cy (?), n. Dactyliomancy. [R.] Am. Cyc.

Dac`tyl*on"o*my (?), n. [Gr. da`ktylos finger + no`mos law, distribution.] The art of numbering or counting by the fingers.

Dac`tyl*op"ter*ous (?), a. [Gr. da`ktylos finger + &?; wing, fin.] (Zoöl.) Having the inferior rays of the pectoral fins partially or entirely free, as in the gurnards.

||Dac`ty*lo*the"ca (dk`t*l*th"k), n. [NL., fr. Gr. da`ktylos finger, toe + qh`kh case, box.] (Zoöl.) The scaly covering of the toes, as in birds.

Dac`tyl*o*zo"oid (dk`t*l*z"oid), n. [Gr. da`ktylos finger + E. zooid.] (Zoöl.) A kind of zooid of Siphonophora which has an elongated or even vermiform body, with one tentacle, but no mouth. See Siphonophora.

Dad (dd), n. [Prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. daid, Gael. daidein, W. tad, OL. tata, Gr. ta`ta, te`tta, Skr. tta.] Father; -- a word sometimes used by children.

I was never so bethumped with words, Since I first called my brother's father dad.

Shak.

Dad"dle (dd"d'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Daddled (?), p. pr. & vb. n. Daddling.] [Prob. freq. of dade.] To toddle; to walk unsteadily, like a child or an old man; hence, to do anything slowly or feebly.

Dad"dock (?), n. [Cf. Prov. E. dad a large piece.] The rotten body of a tree. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Dad"dy (?), n. Diminutive of Dad. Dryden.

Dad"dy long"legs` (?). 1. (Zoöl.) An arachnidan of the genus Phalangium, and allied genera, having a small body and four pairs of long legs; -- called also harvestman, carter, and grandfather longlegs.

2. (Zoöl.) A name applied to many species of dipterous insects of the genus Tipula, and allied genera, with slender bodies, and very long, slender legs; the crane fly; -- called also father longlegs.

Dade (?), v. t. [Of. uncertain origin. Cf. Dandle, Daddle.] To hold up by leading strings or by the hand, as a child while he toddles. [Obs.]

Little children when they learn to go By painful mothers daded to and fro.

Drayton.

Dade, v. i. To walk unsteadily, as a child in leading strings, or just learning to walk; to move slowly. [Obs.]

No sooner taught to dade, but from their mother trip.

Drayton.

Da"do (?), n.; pl. Dadoes (#). [It. dado die, cube, pedestal; of the same origin as E. die, n. See Die, n.] (Arch.) (a) That part of a pedestal included between the base and the cornice (or surbase); the die. See Illust. of Column. Hence: (b) In any wall, that part of the basement included between the base and the base course. See Base course, under Base. (c) In interior decoration, the lower part of the wall of an apartment when adorned with moldings, or otherwise specially decorated.

{ Dæ"dal (?), Dæ*dal"ian (?) }, a. [L. daedalus cunningly wrought, fr. Gr. &?;; cf. &?; to work cunningly. The word also alludes to the mythical Dædalus (Gr. &?;, lit., the cunning worker).] 1. Cunningly or ingeniously formed or working; skillful; artistic; ingenious.