Devil rides on a fiddle-stick (1 H. IV. ii. 4), a proverbial expression denoting something strange, unexpected. Its origin is not known.
Dian's-bud (M. N. D. iii. 1), the flower of the Agnus castus. "The virtue of this herb is that it will keep man and woman chaste" (Maur, by Lynacre).
Diffused (M. W. iv. 4), obscure, strange, as it were confused and jumbled. "Speak Welsh to him. I doubt not but thy speech will be more diffuse to him than his French shall be to thee" (Cav. Life of Wolsey).
Dole, share, part (Theil, Germ). "Happy man be his dole" (W. T. i. 2, 1 H. IV. ii. 2) is, Be it his part to be called Happy man.
Dough. "My cake is dough" (T. Sh. v. 1) means things are not going well with me. It is a figure taken from bread baked on a girdle, still in use in America.
Drum. "John Drum's Entertainment" (All's Well, v. 1). There was a dramatic piece so named (1601), in which Jack Drum, a servant, was continually foiled in his intrigues.
Ducdamè (As Y. L. ii. 6) would appear to be meant for Italian (duc da me, 'bring to me?').
Dudgeon (Macb. ii. 1), the handle of a dagger, properly a handle made of the wood of the box-root, of which this is the name, as given by Bp. Wilkins, Gerard, and others.
Dun. "To draw Dun out of the mire" (R. and J. i. 4). Gifford, who says he had often played at this game, thus describes it:—"A log of wood is brought into the midst of the room; this is Dun (the cart-horse), and a cry is raised that he is stuck in the mire. Two of the company advance, either with or without ropes, to draw him out. After repeated efforts they find themselves unable to do it, and call for more assistance. The game continues till all the company take part in it, when Dun is extricated of course; and the merriment arises from the awkward and affected efforts of the rustics to lift the log, and sundry arch contrivances to let the ends of it fall on one another's toes."
Dun's the mouse (R. and J. i. 4), an apparent allusion to the colour of the mouse, which, however, is not dun. The phrase was probably made for the sake of a play on done. It is similar to "The cat is gray" (Lear, iii. 6).