Part 57

Death's-head moth (Zoöl.), a very large European moth (Acherontia atropos), so called from a figure resembling a human skull on the back of the thorax; -- called also death's-head sphinx.

Death's"-herb` (?), n. The deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). Dr. Prior.

Deaths"man (?), n. An executioner; a headsman or hangman. [Obs.] Shak.

Death"ward (?), adv. Toward death.

Death"watch` (?; 224), n. 1. (Zoöl.) (a) A small beetle (Anobium tessellatum and other allied species). By forcibly striking its head against woodwork it makes a ticking sound, which is a call of the sexes to each other, but has been imagined by superstitious people to presage death. (b) A small wingless insect, of the family Psocidæ, which makes a similar but fainter sound; -- called also deathtick.

She is always seeing apparitions and hearing deathwatches.

Addison.

I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the deathwatch beat.

Tennyson.

2. The guard set over a criminal before his execution.

De*au"rate (?), a. [L. deauratus, p. p. of deaurare to gild; de- + aurum gold.] Gilded. [Obs.]

De*au"rate (?), v. t. To gild. [Obs.] Bailey.

De`au*ra"tion (?), n. Act of gilding. [Obs.]

Deave (?), v. t. [See Deafen.] To stun or stupefy with noise; to deafen. [Scot.]

De*bac"chate (?), v. i. [L. debacchatus, p. p. of debacchari to rage; de- + bacchari to rage like a bacchant.] To rave as a bacchanal. [R.] Cockeram.

De`bac*cha"tion (?), n. [L. debacchatio.] Wild raving or debauchery. [R.] Prynne.

De*ba"cle (?), n. [F. débâcle, fr. débâcler to unbar, break loose; pref. dé- (prob. = L. dis) + bâcler to bolt, fr. L. baculum a stick.] (Geol.) A breaking or bursting forth; a violent rush or flood of waters which breaks down opposing barriers, and hurls forward and disperses blocks of stone and other débris.

De*bar" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debarred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debarring.] [Pref. de- + bar.] To cut off from entrance, as if by a bar or barrier; to preclude; to hinder from approach, entry, or enjoyment; to shut out or exclude; to deny or refuse; -- with from, and sometimes with of.

Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed Labor, as to debar us when we need Refreshment.

Milton.

Their wages were so low as to debar them, not only from the comforts but from the common decencies of civilized life.

Buckle.

De*barb" (?), v. t. [Pref. de- + L. barba beard.] To deprive of the beard. [Obs.] Bailey.

De"bark" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Debarked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debarking.] [F. débarquer; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + barque. See Bark the vessel, and cf. Disbark.] To go ashore from a ship or boat; to disembark; to put ashore.

De`bar*ka"tion (?), n. Disembarkation.

The debarkation, therefore, had to take place by small steamers.

U. S. Grant.

De*bar"ment (?), n. Hindrance from approach; exclusion.