Part 548

Drome (drm), n. [F., fr. Gr. droma`s running. See Dromedary.] (Zoöl.) The crab plover (Dromas ardeola), a peculiar North African bird, allied to the oyster catcher.

Drom"e*da*ry (drm"*d*r), n.; pl. Dromedaries (#). [F. dromadaire, LL. dromedarius, fr. L. dromas (sc. camelus), fr. Gr. droma`s running, from dramei`n, used as aor. of tre`chein to run; cf. Skr. dram to run.] (Zoöl.) The Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius), having one hump or protuberance on the back, in distinction from the Bactrian camel, which has two humps.

In Arabia and Egypt the name is restricted to the better breeds of this species of camel. See Deloul.

{ Drom"ond (?), or Drom"on (?) }. [OF. dromont, L. dromo, fr. Gr. dro`mwn light vessel, prob. fr. dramei^n to run. See Dromedary.] In the Middle Ages, a large, fast-sailing galley, or cutter; a large, swift war vessel. [Hist. or Archaic] Fuller.

The great dromond swinging from the quay.

W. Morris.

Drone (?), n. [OE. drane a dronebee, AS. drn; akin to OS. drn, OHG. treno, G. drohne, Dan. drone, cf. Gr. &?; a kind of wasp, dial. Gr. &?; drone. Prob. named fr. the droning sound. See Drone, v. i.] 1. (Zoöl.) The male of bees, esp. of the honeybee. It gathers no honey. See Honeybee.

All with united force combine to drive The lazy drones from the laborious hive.

Dryden.

2. One who lives on the labors of others; a lazy, idle fellow; a sluggard.

By living as a drone,to be an unprofitable and unworthy member of so noble and learned a society.

Burton.

3. That which gives out a grave or monotonous tone or dull sound; as: (a) A drum. [Obs.] Halliwell. (b) The part of the bagpipe containing the two lowest tubes, which always sound the key note and the fifth.

4. A humming or deep murmuring sound.

The monotonous drone of the wheel.

Longfellow.

5. (Mus.) A monotonous bass, as in a pastoral composition.

Drone (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Droned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Droning.] [Cf. (for sense 1) D. dreunen, G. dröhnen, Icel. drynja to roar, drynr a roaring, Sw. dröna to bellow, drone, Dan. dröne, Goth. drunjus sound, Gr. &?; dirge, &?; to cry aloud, Skr. dhran to sound. Cf. Drone, n.] 1. To utter or make a low, dull, monotonous, humming or murmuring sound.

Where the beetle wheels his droning flight.

T. Gray.

2. To love in idleness; to do nothing. "Race of droning kings." Dryden.

Drone" bee` (?). (Zoöl.) The male of the honeybee; a drone.

Drone" fly` (?). (Zoöl.) A dipterous insect (Eristalis tenax), resembling the drone bee. See Eristalis.

Drone"pipe`, n. One of the low- toned tubes of a bagpipe.

Dron"go (?), n.; pl. Drongos (&?;). (Zoöl.) A passerine bird of the family Dicruridæ. They are usually black with a deeply forked tail. They are natives of Asia, Africa, and Australia; -- called also drongo shrikes.

Dron"ish (?), a. Like a drone; indolent; slow. Burke. -- Dron"ish*ly, adv. -- Dron"ish*ness, n.

Dron"ke*lewe (?), a. [See Drink.] Given to drink; drunken. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dron"te (?), n. [F.] (Zoöl.) The dodo.