Part 105

Encyc. of Sport.

Dead"en, v. t. To render impervious to sound, as a wall or floor; to deafen.

De*ba"cle (?), n. A sudden breaking up or breaking loose; a violent dispersion or disruption; impetuous rush; outburst.

De*ben"ture, n. Any of various instruments issued, esp. by corporations, as evidences of debt. Such instruments (often called debenture bonds) are generally, through not necessarily, under seal, and are usually secured by a mortgage or other charge upon property; they may be registered or unregistered. A debenture secured by a mortgage on specific property is called a mortgage debenture; one secured by a floating charge (which see), a floating debenture; one not secured by any charge a naked debenture. In general the term debenture in British usage designates any security issued by companies other than their shares, including, therefore, what are in the United States commonly called bonds. When used in the United States debenture generally designates an instrument secured by a floating charge junior to other charges secured by fixed mortgages, or, specif., one of a series of securities secured by a group of securities held in trust for the benefit of the debenture holders.

Debenture stock. (Finance) The debt or series of debts, collectively, represented by a series of debentures; a debt secured by a trust deed of property for the benefit of the holders of shares in the debt or of a series of debentures. By the terms of much debenture stock the holders are not entitled to demand payment until the winding up of the company or default in payment; in the winding up of the company or default in payment; in the case of railway debentures, they cannot demand payment of the principal, and the debtor company cannot redeem the stock, except by authority of an act of Parliament. [Eng.]

De*bouch" (?), v. i. (Geog.) To issue; -- said of a stream passing from a gorge out into an open valley or a plain.

De*ca"dent (?), n. One that is decadent, or deteriorating; esp., one characterized by, or exhibiting, the qualities of those who are degenerating to a lower type; -- specif. applied to a certain school of modern French writers.

The decadents and æsthetes, and certain types of realists.

C. L. Dana.

The business men of a great State allow their State to be represented in Congress by "decadents".

The Century.

De*cath"lon (?), n. [See Deca-; Pentathlon.] In the modern Olympic Games, a composite contest consisting of a 100-meter run, a broad jump, putting the shot, a running high-jump, a 400-meter run, throwing the discus, a 100-meter hurdle race, pole vaulting, throwing the javelin, and a 1500-meter run.

De*cem"brist (?), n. (Russian Hist.) One of those who conspired for constitutional government against the Emperor Nicholas on his accession to the throne at the death of Alexander I., in December, 1825; -- called also Dekabrist.

He recalls the history of the decembrists . . . that gallant band of revolutionists.

G. Kennan.

Dec"i*are` (?), n. [F. déciare; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + are. See 2d Are.] (Metric System) A measure of area, the tenth part of an are; ten square meters.

Deck, n. (Aëronautics) A main aëroplane surface, esp. of a biplane or multiplane.

Dec"kle edge`. The rough, untrimmed edge of paper left by the deckle; also, a rough edge in imitation of this.

Dec"kle-edged` (?), a. Having a deckle edge; as, deckle-edged paper; a deckle-edged book.

De*class" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Declassed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Declassing.] [Cf. F. déclasser.] To remove from a class; to separate or degrade from one's class. North Am. Rev.

De`co*her"er (?), n. [Pref. de- + coherer.] (Elec.) A device for restoring a coherer to its normal condition after it has been affected by an electric wave, a process usually accomplished by some method of tapping or shaking, or by rotation of the coherer.

||Dé`col`le*tage" (d`k`l'*tzh), n. [F. See Décolleté.] (Costume) The upper border or part of a décolleté corsage.

||Dé`col`le*té" (d`kl`le*t"), a. Wearing a décolleté gown.

Decoration Day. = Memorial Day. [U. S.]

||Dé`cu`lasse`ment" (?), n. [F.] Also, sometimes, Anglicized Dec`u*lass"ment (&?;). (Ordnance) An accidental blowing off of, or other serious damage to, the breechblock of a gun; also, a removal of the breechblock for the purpose of disabling the gun.

Deer"stalk`er (?), n. A close- fitting hat, with a low crown, such as is worn in deerstalking; also, any stiff, round hat. [Eng.]

De*fect"ive (?), n. 1. Anything that is defective or lacking in some respect.

2. (Med.) One who is lacking physically or mentally.