Dicrotos, Dicrotus, Gr. (δί-κροτος, lit. double-beating). The Greek name for a vessel with two banks of oars, the Roman biremis.
Dictynnia (δίκτυον, a hunter’s net). A Cretan festival in honour of Artemis.
Fig. 250. Dictyotheton.
Dictyotheton, Gr. (from δίκτυον, a net). A kind of masonry composed of regularly-cut square stones, forming, in a wall so constructed, a network or chess-board pattern. It answered to the opus reticulatum of the Romans.
Didrachma, Didrachmum, Gr. (δί-δραχμον). A double silver drachma of the Greek coinage, which was worth about two shillings.
Die. In Architecture, for dado, or the part of a pedestal that would correspond to the dado (q.v.).
Die-sinking. The art of engraving on steel moulds, medals, coins, and inscriptions.
Difference, Differencing, Her. An addition to, or some change in, a coat of arms, introduced for the purpose of distinguishing coats which in their primary qualities are the same. Differencing is sometimes used in the same sense as Cadency; but, strictly, it is distinct, having reference to alliance and dependency, without blood-relationship, or to the system adopted for distinguishing similar coats of arms. (Bouteil.)
Digitale, R. (digitus, a finger). A kind of glove worn by the Sarmatians, an example of which may be seen on Trajan’s Column.