Demi-john, dem′i-jon, n. a glass bottle with a full body and narrow neck, enclosed in wicker-work. [Fr. dame-jeanne, Dame Jane, analogous to Bellarmine, gray-beard. Not from the town Damaghan.]
Demi-lance, dem′i-lans, n. a short, light spear of the 16th century; a soldier armed with such a weapon.
Demi-lune, dem′i-lōōn, n. (fort.) a half-moon: an old name for Ravelin. [L. demi, half, and Fr. lune—L. luna, the moon.]
Demi-monde, dem′i-mond, n. women in an equivocal position, kept women: the prostitute class generally.
Demirep, dem′i-rep, n. a woman of dubious reputation.—n. Dem′irepdom, shady women collectively. [Said to be a contraction of demi-reputation.]
Demise, dē-mīz′, n. a transferring: death, esp. of a sovereign or a distinguished person: a transfer of the crown or of an estate to a successor.—v.t. to send down to a successor: to bequeath by will.—adj. Demī′sable. [O. Fr. demise, pa.p. of desmettre, to lay down—L. dimittĕre, to send away—L. dis, aside, and mittĕre, missum, to send.]
Demi-semiquaver, dem′i-sem′i-kwā-vėr, n. (mus.) a note equal in time to the half of a semiquaver. [Fr. demi, half, and semiquaver.]
Demiss, de-mis′, adj. (Spens.) humble. [L. demissus, pa.p. of demittĕre. See Demise.]
Demission, de-mish′un, n. a lowering: degradation: depression: relinquishment: resignation.—adj. Demiss′ive (obs.), humble.—adv. Demiss′ly. [L. demission-em. See Demise.]