Part 112

Dread"nought` (?), n. 1. A British battleship, completed in 1906 -- 1907, having an armament consisting of ten 12-inch guns, and of twenty-four 12-pound quick-fire guns for protection against torpedo boats. This was the first battleship of the type characterized by a main armament of big guns all of the same caliber. She has a displacement of 17,900 tons at load draft, and a speed of 21 knots per hour.

2. Any battleship having its main armament entirely of big guns all of one caliber. Since the Dreadnought was built, the caliber of the heaviest guns has increased from 12 in. to 13½ in., 14 in., and 15 in., and the displacement of the largest batteships from 18,000 tons to 30,000 tons and upwards. The term superdreadnought is popularly applied to battleships with such increased displacement and gun caliber.

||Drei"bund` (?), n. [G., fr. drei three + bund league.] A triple alliance; specif., the alliance of Germany, Austria, and Italy, formed in 1882.

Dress circle. A gallery or circle in a theater, generally the first above the floor, in which originally dress clothes were customarily worn.

Dress"er, n. [F. dressoir. See Dress, v. t.] A piece of chamber furniture consisting of a chest of drawers, or bureau, with a mirror. [U. S.]

Drib"ble (?), v. t. In various games, to propel (the ball) by successive slight hits or kicks so as to keep it always in control.

Drib"ble, v. i. 1. In football and similar games, to dribble the ball.

2. To live or pass one's time in a trivial fashion.

Drib"ble, n. An act of dribbling a ball.

Drift, n. 1. (Phys. Geog.) One of the slower movements of oceanic circulation; a general tendency of the water, subject to occasional or frequent diversion or reversal by the wind; as, the easterly drift of the North Pacific.

2. (Aëronautics) The horizontal component of the pressure of the air on the sustaining surfaces of a flying machine. The lift is the corresponding vertical component, which sustains the machine in the air.

Drive, v. i. (Golf) To make a drive, or stroke from the tee.

Drive, v. t. Specif., in various games, as tennis, baseball, etc., to propel (the ball) swiftly by a direct stroke or forcible throw.

Drive, n. 1. In various games, as tennis, cricket, etc., the act of player who drives the ball; the stroke or blow; the flight of the ball, etc., so driven.

2. (Golf) A stroke from the tee, generally a full shot made with a driver; also, the distance covered by such a stroke.

6. An implement used for driving; as: (a) A mallet. (b) A tamping iron. (c) A cooper's hammer for driving on barrel hoops. (d) A wooden- headed golf club with a long shaft, for playing the longest strokes. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Drome (drm), n. Short for Aërodrome. [Slang]

Drove (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Droved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Droving (?).] [Cf. Drove, n., and Drover.] 1. To drive, as cattle or sheep, esp. on long journeys; to follow the occupation of a drover.

He's droving now with Conroy's sheep along the Castlereagh.

Paterson.

2. To finish, as stone, with a drove or drove chisel.

Drum winding. (Elec.) A method of armature winding in which the wire is wound upon the outer surface of a cylinder or drum from end to end of the cylinder; -- distinguished from ring winding, etc.

Du`chesse" lace (?). A beautiful variety of Brussels pillow lace made originally in Belgium and resembling Honiton guipure. It is worked with fine thread in large sprays, usually of the primrose pattern, with much raised work.

Duff (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Duffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Duffing.] [Etym. uncertain.] [Colloq. or Slang] 1. To treat or manipulate so as to give a specious appearance to; to fake; hence, to cheat.

2. In Australia, to alter the brands on (cattle, horses, etc.); to steal (cattle, etc.), and alter their brands.

Duf"fel, n. Outfit or suppplies, collectively; kit. [Colloq., U. S.]

Duffel bag. A sack to hold miscellaneous articles, as tools, supplies, or the like.

Duf"fer, n. 1. (Mining) See Shicer.