1. Doubtful or not settled in opinion; being in doubt; wavering or fluctuating; undetermined. Dubious policy." Sir T. Scott.

A dubious, agitated state of mind. Thackeray.

2. Occasioning doubt; not clear, or obvious; equivocal; questionable; doubtful; as, a dubious answer.

Wiping the dingy shirt with a still more dubious pocket handkerchief. Thackeray.

3. Of uncertain event or issue; as, in dubious battle. Syn. -- Doubtful; doubting; unsettled; undetermined; equivocal; uncertain. Cf. Doubtful.

Dubiously

Du"bi*ous*ly, adv. In a dubious manner.

Dubiousness

Du"bi*ous*ness, n. State of being dubious.

Dubitable

Du"bi*ta*ble (?), a. [L. dubitabilis. Cf. Doubtable.] Liable to be doubted; uncertain. [R.] Dr. H. More. -- Du"bi*ta*bly, adv. [R.]

Dubitancy

Du"bi*tan*cy (?), n. [LL. dubitantia.] Doubt; uncertainty. [R.] Hammond.

Dubitate

Du"bi*tate (?), v. i. [L. dubitatus, p. p. of dubitare. See Doubt.] To doubt. [R.]

If he . . . were to loiter dubitating, and not come. Carlyle.

Dubitation

Du`bi*ta"tion (?), n. [L. dubitatio.] Act of doubting; doubt. [R.] Sir T. Scott.

Dubitative

Du"bi*ta*tive (?), a. [L. dubitativus: cf. F. dubitatif.] Tending to doubt; doubtful. [R.] -- Du"bi*ta*tive*ly, adv. [R.] . Eliot.

Duboisia

Du*bois"i*a (?), n. [NL.] (Med.) Same as Duboisine.

Duboisine

Du*bois"ine (?), n. (Med.) An alkaloid obtained from the leaves of an Australian tree (Duboisia myoporoides), and regarded as identical with hyoscyamine. It produces dilation of the pupil of the eye.

Ducal

Du"cal (?), a. [F. ducal. See Duke.] Of or pertaining to a duke.

His ducal cap was to be exchanged for a kingly crown. Motley.

Ducally

Du"cal*ly, adv. In the manner of a duke, or in a manner becoming the rank of a duke.

Ducat

Duc"at (?), n. [F. ducat, It. ducato, LL. ducatus, fr. dux leader or commander. See Duke.] A coin, either of gold or silver, of several countries in Europe; originally, one struck in the dominions of a duke. &hand; The gold ducat is generally of the value of nine shillings and four pence sterling, or somewhat more that two dollars. The silver ducat is of about half this value.

Ducatoon

Duc`a*toon" (?), n. [F. or Sp. ducaton, fr. ducat.] A silver coin of several countries of Europe, and of different values.

Duces tecum

Du"ces te"cum (?). [L., bring with thee.] A judicial process commanding a person to appear in court and bring with him some piece of evidence or other thing to be produced to the court.

Duchess

Duch"ess (?), n. [F. duchesse, fr. duc duke.] The wife or widow of a duke; also, a lady who has the sovereignty of a duchy in her own right.

Duchesse d'Angoul\'88me

Du`chesse" d'An`gou`l\'88me" (?). [F.] (Bot.) A variety of pear of large size and excellent flavor.

Duchy

Duch"y (?), n.; pl. Duchies (#). [F. duché, OF. duchée, (assumed) LL. ducitas, fr. L. dux. See Duke.] The territory or dominions of a duke; a dukedom.

Duck

Duck (?), n. [Cf. Dan. dukke, Sw. docka, OHG. doccha, G. docke. Cf. Doxy.] A pet; a darling. Shak.

Duck

Duck, n. [D. doek cloth, canvas, or Icel. dkr cloth; akin to OHG. tuoh, G. tuch, Sw. duk, Dan. dug.]

1. A linen (or sometimes cotton) fabric, finer and lighter than canvas, -- used for the lighter sails of vessels, the sacking of beds, and sometimes for men's clothing.

2. (Naut.) pl. The light clothes worn by sailors in hot climates. [Colloq.]

Duck

Duck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ducked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ducking.] [OE. duken, douken, to dive; akin to D. duiken, OHG. thhan, MHG. tucken, t\'81cken, tchen, G. tuchen. Cf. 5th Duck.]

1. To thrust or plunge under water or other liquid and suddenly withdraw.

Adams, after ducking the squire twice or thrice, leaped out of the tub. Fielding.

2. To plunge the head of under water, immediately withdrawing it; as, duck the boy.

3. To bow; to bob down; to move quickly with a downward motion. Will duck his head aside. Swift.

Duck

Duck (?), v. i.

1. To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to dive; to plunge the head in water or other liquid; to dip.

In Tiber ducking thrice by break of day. Dryden.

2. To drop the head or person suddenly; to bow.

The learned pate Ducks to the golden fool. Shak.

Duck

Duck, n. [OE. duke, doke. See Duck, v. t. ]

1. (Zool.) Any bird of the subfamily Anatinæ, family Anatidæ. &hand; The genera and species are numerous. They are divided into river ducks and sea ducks. Among the former are the common domestic duck (Anas boschas); the wood duck (Aix sponsa); the beautiful mandarin duck of China (Dendronessa galeriliculata); the Muscovy duck, originally of South America (Cairina moschata). Among the sea ducks are the eider, canvasback, scoter, etc.

2. A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the person, resembling the motion of a duck in water.

Here be, without duck or nod, Other trippings to be trod. Milton.

Bombay duck (Zoöl.), a fish. See Bummalo. -- Buffel duck, ∨ Spirit duck. See Buffel duck. -- Duck ant (Zoöl.), a species of white ant in Jamaica which builds large nests in trees. -- Duck barnacle. (Zoöl.) See Goose barnacle. -- Duck hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) In the United States: The peregrine falcon. (b) In England: The marsh harrier or moor buzzard. -- Duck mole (Zoöl.), a small aquatic mammal of Australia, having webbed feet and a bill resembling that of a duck (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). It belongs the subclass Monotremata and is remarkable for laying eggs like a bird or reptile; -- called also duckbill, platypus, mallangong, mullingong, tambreet, and water mole. -- To make ducks and drakes, to throw a flat stone obliquely, so as to make it rebound repeatedly from the surface of the water, raising a succession of jets<-- = skipping stones -->; hence: To play at ducks and drakes, with property, to throw it away heedlessly or squander it foolishly and unprofitably. -- Lame duck. See under Lame.

Duckbill

Duck"bill`, n. (Zoöl.) See Duck mole, under Duck, n.

Duck-billed

Duck"-billed` (?), a. Having a bill like that of a duck.<-- duckbilled platypus, see Duck Mole, above -->.

Ducker

Duck"er (?), n.

1. One who, or that which, ducks; a plunger; a diver.

2. A cringing, servile person; a fawner.

Ducking

Duck"ing, n. & a., from Duck, v. t. & i. Ducking stool, a stool or chair in which common scolds were formerly tied, and plunged into water, as a punishment. See Cucking stool. The practice of ducking began in the latter part of the 15th century, and prevailed until the early part of the 18th, and occasionally as late as the 19th century. Blackstone. Chambers.

Duck-legged

Duck"-legged` (?), a. Having short legs, like a waddling duck; short-legged. Dryden.

Duckling

Duck"ling (?), n. A young or little duck. Gay.

Duckmeat, ∨ Duck's-meat

Duck"meat` (?), ∨ Duck's"-meat` (?), n. (Bot.) Duckweed.

Duck's-bill

Duck's"-bill`, a. Having the form of a duck's bill. Duck's-bill limpet (Zoöl.), a limpet of the genus Parmaphorus; -- so named from its shape.

Duck's-foot

Duck's"-foot` (?), n. (Bot.) The May apple (Podophyllum peltatum).

Duckweed

Duck"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) A genus (Lemna) of small plants, seen floating in great quantity on the surface of stagnant pools fresh water, and supposed to furnish food for ducks; -- called also duckmeat.

Duct

Duct (?), n. [L. ductus a leading, conducting, conduit, fr. ducere, ductum, to lead. See Duke, and cf. Douche.]

1. Any tube or canal by which a fluid or other substance is conducted or conveyed.

2. (Anat.) One of the vessels of an animal body by which the products of glandular secretion are conveyed to their destination.

3. (Bot.) A large, elongated cell, either round or prismatic, usually found associated with woody fiber. &hand; Ducts are classified, according to the character of the surface of their walls, or their structure, as annular, spiral, scalariform, etc.

4. Guidance; direction. [Obs.] Hammond.

Ductible

Duc"ti*ble (?), a. Capable of being drawn out [R.] Feltham.

Ductile

Duc"tile (?), a. [L. ductilis, fr. ducere to lead: cf. F. ductile. See Duct.]

1. Easily led; tractable; complying; yielding to motives, persuasion, or instruction; as, a ductile people. Addison.

Forms their ductile minds To human virtues. Philips.

2. Capable of being elongated or drawn out, as into wire or threads.

Gold . . . is the softest and most ductile of all metals. Dryden.

-- Duc"tile*ly (#), adv. -- Duc"tile*ness, n.

Ductilimeter

Duc`ti*lim"e*ter (?), n. [Ductile + -meter.] An instrument for accurately determining the ductility of metals.

Ductility

Duc*til"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. ductilité.]

1. The property of a metal which allows it to be drawn into wires or filaments.

2. Tractableness; pliableness. South.

Duction

Duc"tion (?), n. [L. ductio, fr. ducere to lead.] Guidance. [Obs.] Feltham.

Ductless

Duct"less (?), a. Having to duct or outlet; as, a ductless gland.

Ductor

Duc"tor (?), n. [L., fr. ducere to lead.]

1. One who leads. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. (Mach.) A contrivance for removing superfluous ink or coloring matter from a roller. See Doctor, 4. Knight. Ductor roller (Printing), the roller which conveys or supplies ink to another roller. Knight.

Ducture

Duc"ture (?), n. Guidance. [Obs.] South.

Dudder

Dud"der (?), v. t. [In Suffolk, Eng., to shiver, shake, tremble; also written dodder.] To confuse or confound with noise. Jennings.

Dudder

Dud"der, v. i. To shiver or tremble; to dodder.

I dudder and shake like an aspen leaf. Ford.

Dudder

Dud"der, n. [From Duds.] A peddler or hawker, especially of cheap and flashy goods pretended to be smuggled; a duffer. [Eng.]

Duddery

Dud"der*y (?), n. A place where rags are bought and kept for sale. [Eng.]

Dude

Dude (?), n. A kind of dandy; especially, one characterized by an ultrafashionable style of dress and other affectations. [Recent]

The social dude who affects English dress and English drawl. The American.

Dudeen

Du*deen" (?), n. A short tobacco pipe. [Written also dudheen.] [Irish]

Dudgeon

Dudg"eon (?), n.

1. The root of the box tree, of which hafts for daggers were made. Gerarde (1597).

2. The haft of a dagger. Shak.

3. A dudgeon-hafted dagger; a dagger. Hudibras.

Dudgeon

Dudg"eon, n. [W. dygen anger, grudge.] Resentment; ill will; anger; displeasure.

I drink it to thee in dudgeon and hostility.

Sir T. Scott.

Dudgeon

Dudg"eon, a. Homely; rude; coarse. [Obs.]

By my troth, though I am plain and dudgeon, I would not be an ass. Beau. & Fl.

Dudish

Dud"ish (?), a. Like, or characterized of, a dude.

Duds

Duds (?), n. pl. [Scot. dud rag, pl. duds clothing of inferior quality.]

1. Old or inferior clothes; tattered garments. [Colloq.]

2. Effects, in general.[Slang]

Due

Due (?), a. [OF. deu, F. d\'96, p. p. of devoir to owe, fr. L. debere. See Debt, Habit, and cf. Duty.]

1. Owed, as a debt; that ought to be paid or done to or for another; payable; owing and demandable.

2. Justly claimed as a right or property; proper; suitable; becoming; appropriate; fit.

Her obedience, which is due to me. Shak.

With dirges due, in sad array, Slow through the churchway path we saw him borne. Gray.

3. Such as (a thing) ought to be; fulfilling obligation; proper; lawful; regular; appointed; sufficient; exact; as, due process of law; due service; in due time.

4. Appointed or required to arrive at a given time; as, the steamer was due yesterday.

5. Owing; ascribable, as to a cause.

This effect is due to the attraction of the sun. J. D. Forbes.

Due

Due, adv. Directly; exactly; as, a due east course.

Due

Due, n.

1. That which is owed; debt; that which one contracts to pay, or do, to or for another; that which belongs or may be claimed as a right; whatever custom, law, or morality requires to be done; a fee; a toll.

He will give the devil his due. Shak.

Yearly little dues of wheat, and wine, and oil. Tennyson.

2. Right; just title or claim.

The key of this infernal pit by due . . . I keep. Milton.

Due

Due, v. t. To endue. [Obs.] Shak.

Duebill

Due"bill` (?), n. (Com.) A brief written acknowledgment of a debt, not made payable to order, like a promissory note. Burrill.

Dueful

Due"ful (?), a. Fit; becoming. [Obs.] Spenser.

Duel

Du"el (?), n. [It. duello, fr. L. duellum, orig., a contest between two, which passed into the common form bellum war, fr. duo two: cf. F. duel. See Bellicose, Two, and cf. Duello.] A combat between two persons, fought with deadly weapons, by agreement. It usually arises from an injury done or an affront given by one to the other. Trial by duel (Old Law), a combat between two persons for proving a cause; trial by battel. <-- NOte: this is the correct spelling of "battel"! -->

Duel

Du"el, v. i. & t. To fight in single combat. [Obs.]

Dueler

Du"el*er, n. One who engages in a duel. [R.] [Written also dueller.] South.

Dueling

Du"el*ing, n. e act or practice of fighting in single combat. Also adj. [Written also duelling.]

Duelist

Du"el*ist (?), n. [F. duelliste.] One who fights in single combat. [Written also duellist.]

A duelist . . . always values himself upon his courage, his sense of honor, his fidelity and friendship. Hume.

Duelo

Du*e"lo (?), n. [It. See Duel.] A duel; also, the rules of dueling. [Obs.] Shak.

Due\'a4a

Du*e"\'a4a (?), n. [Sp.] See Do\'a4a.

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