Degradation. In military life, the act of depriving an officer forever of his commission, rank, dignity, or degree of honor, and taking away at the same time every title, badge, or privilege he may possess.
Degraded. In heraldry, means placed upon steps or degrees.
Degsestan, Battle of. See [Scotland].
Dehors. In the military art, all sorts of outworks in general, placed at some distance from the walls of a fortification, the better to secure the main places, and to protect the siege, etc.
Delaware. One of the Middle States of the United States, and one of the original thirteen. It derives its name (as do the Delaware River and Bay and Delaware Indians) from Thomas West, lord de la Warr, who visited the bay in 1610, and died on his vessel at its mouth. It was first settled by the Swedes and Dutch, but came into possession of the English in 1664, and formed part of the grant to William Penn in 1682. In 1701 it was separated from Pennsylvania, though subject to the same governor down to the period of the Revolution, to the success of which it contributed its full share, and for the maintenance of the results of which it has ever been a zealous advocate.
Delaware Indians. A tribe of aborigines, called by themselves Lenni-Lenape, who formerly lived on the Delaware River, but are now settled in Indian Territory, on the Wichita Agency, with the Caddos. See [Indians and their Agencies].
Delf. A heraldic charge representing a square sod or turf, the term being probably derived from the word delve, to dig. A delf tenné is the appropriate abatement for him who revokes his challenge, or otherwise goes from his word.
Delhi. A celebrated city of Northern India, situated on an offset of the river Jumna. The city was taken by a British army under Lord Lake, September 8, 1803, and has ever since continued under British rule. In 1857 it was held by the Sepoys, who murdered several English subjects, but was retaken, after a successful assault, September, 1857.
Deliver Battle. A term taken from the French livrer bataille, meaning to enter practically upon a contest; the opposing armies being in sight of each other.
Dellamcotta. A fortress of Northern Hindostan, in the province of Bootan, commanding the principal pass into that province. It was stormed by the British troops in 1773, which so alarmed the Booteans that they petitioned for peace. The fortress was then restored to them.