Devil’s dust, a term used in the manufacturing districts of Yorkshire to denote shreds of old cloth torn up to re-manufacture; also called SHODDY. Mr. Ferrand, in his speech in the House, March 4, 1842, produced a piece of cloth made chiefly from DEVIL’S DUST, and tore it into shreds to prove its worthlessness.—See Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, third series, vol. lxi. p. 140.
Devil-scolder, a clergyman.
Devil’s livery, black and yellow. From the mourning and quarantine uses of the colours.
Devil’s teeth, or DEVIL’S BONES, dice.
Devotional habits, horses weak in the knees, and apt to stumble and fall, are said to have these.—Stable.
Dew-beaters, feet; “hold out your DEW-BEATERS till I take off the darbies.”—Peveril of the Peak. Forby says the word is used in Norfolk for heavy shoes to resist wet.
Dew-drink, a morning draught, such as is served out to labourers in harvest time before commencing work.
Dewskitch, a good thrashing, perhaps from catching one’s due.
Dibbs, money; so called from the huckle bones of sheep, which have been used from the earliest times for gambling purposes when money was not obtainable—in one particular game being thrown up five at a time and caught on the back of the hand like halfpence.