Dout, dowt, v.t. to put out, extinguish.—n. Dout′er. [Do out.]
Dove, duv, n. a pigeon (esp. in comp., as ringdove, turtle-dove, &c.): a word of endearment: an emblem of innocence, gentleness, also of the Holy Spirit—the 'Holy Dove' (Matt. iii. 16).—v.t. to treat as a dove.—ns. Dove′-col′our, a grayish, bluish, pinkish colour; Dove′cot, -cote, a small cot or box in which pigeons breed.—adjs. Dove′-drawn (Shak.), drawn by doves; Dove′-eyed, meek-eyed.—ns. Dove′-house, a dovecot; Dove′let, a small dove.—adj. Dove′-like, innocent.—ns. Dove's′-foot, the common name for Geranium molle; Dove′ship, the character or quality of a dove.—Flutter the dovecots, to disturb commonplace, conventional people, as the eagle would a dovecot (see Shak., Cor. V. vi. 115). [A.S. dufe in dúfe-doppa; Ger. taube.]
Dovekie, duv′ki, n. the little auk, a diving bird of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.
Dover, dō′ver, v.i. (Scot.) to slumber lightly, doze off.—v.t. to send off into a light sleep.—n. a slight unsettled sleep.
Dover's powder, dō′verz pow′der, n. a valuable sudorific medicine, compounded of ipecacuanha root, powdered opium, and sulphate of potash. [From Dr Thomas Dover, 1660-1742.]
Dovetail, duv′tāl, n. a mode of fastening boards together by fitting pieces shaped like a wedge or a dove's tail spread out (tenons) into corresponding cavities (mortises).—v.t. to fit one thing into another.
Dow, dow, v.i. (obs.) to be good for a purpose: (Scot.) to be able.—p.adjs. Docht, Dought. [A.S. dugan.]
Dowager, dow′a-jėr, n. a widow with a dower or jointure: a title given to a widow to distinguish her from the wife of her husband's heir. [O. Fr. douagere—Low L. dotarium—L. dotāre, to endow.]
Dowdy, dow′di, adj. untidy, carelessly dressed, soft and slack in habit.—n. an untidy woman.—adv. Dow′dily.—ns. Dow′diness, Dow′dyism.—adj. Dow′dyish. [Ety. unknown.]