Duke, Her. The highest rank and title in the British peerage; first introduced by Edward III. in the year 1337, when he created the Black Prince the first English duke (in Latin “dux”). The coronet of a duke, arbitrary in its adornment until the 16th century was far advanced, is now a circlet, heightened with eight conventional strawberry-leaves, of which in representation three and two half-leaves are shown. (Boutell.)
Dulcimer. A musical instrument, the prototype of our pianoforte. It was very early known to the Arabs and Persians, who called it santir. One of its old European names is the cimbal. The Hebrew nebel, or perhaps the psanterin mentioned by Daniel, is supposed to have been a dulcimer; the psalterion of the Greeks also. A hand organ of the Middle Ages was called a dulcimer.
Dunkirk. A manufactory of modern faience which only existed for a short time in the 18th century, and was closed within a year. The works are therefore very rare. Jacquemart mentions a clock bearing a close resemblance to certain Dutch products, inscribed Dickhoof and A. Duisburg, and by the latter name identified as Dunkirk work.
Duns, Celtic. Ancient hill forts of the simplest kind, consisting of a round or oval earthen wall and ditch on a rising ground, probably contemporary with the pit dwellings.
Dunster, O. E. Broad cloth made in Somersetshire, temp. Edward III.
Dutch Pink. (See Pinks.)
Dutch White. (See Carbonate of Lead, Barytes.)
Dwararab’ha, Dwaragopouras, Dwaraharmya, Dwaraprasada, Dwarasala, Ind. (See Gopouras.)
E.
