Dexter, a term meaning on the right-hand side, chiefly used in heraldry. The dexter chief point is a point in the right-hand upper corner of the shield, being in the dexter extremity of the chief.
Dex´trine, or British Gum, (C6H10O5)x, a generic name applied to soluble gummy substances intermediate between starch and glucose. They are prepared from starch by the aid of dilute mineral acids or of enzymes, and are usually named according to the colour they give with iodine, e.g. erythro-dextrine, &c. When heated with dilute acids, they are transformed into glucose. They are white, odourless substances, and are good substitutes for gum-arabic. Dextrine is used in calico printing for thickening colours; for the preparation of gums, and for stiffening cloth.
Dextro-compounds, bodies which cause the plane of a ray of polarized light to rotate to the right. Dextrine itself, dextro-glucose, naturally occurring tartaric acid, malic acid, cinchonine, and many other bodies have this property; while others, which have the opposite effect, of causing the plane to rotate to the left, are called lævo-compounds.
Dey, an honorary title formerly bestowed by the Turks on elderly men, and assumed by the rulers (under the Turkish Sultan) of Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis.
Dhalak (dha˙-la˙k´), an archipelago of the Red Sea, belonging to the Italian territory of Eritrea. It consists of nearly 100 islets, mostly uninhabited, clustering round the Island of Dhalak-el-Kebir, which is about 35 miles long by 30 miles broad. This island possesses a pearl-fishery.
Dhar (dhär), a small native state in Central India, with an area of about 1740 sq. miles. The soil is fertile, and yields wheat, rice, and opium. Pop. 169,474.—The capital is of the same name, is surrounded by a mud wall, and has some striking buildings. Pop. 19,000.
Dhárangaon, a town of Hindustan, in Khandesh district, Bombay. Pop. 15,000.
Dharmsála, a hill station with military cantonments, in Kangra district, Punjab, India. Pop. 6170.
Dharwar, the chief town of Dharwar district, in the Bombay Presidency, Hindustan, a straggling place with some trade. There is a fort well planned and strongly situated, but now falling into ruins, and military cantonments at 2 miles' distance. Pop. 32,000.—The Dharwar district has an area of 4535 sq. miles; pop. 1,051,314.
Dhawala´giri, or Dhaulágiri, one of the highest peaks of the Himalayas, in Nepál; height, 26,828 feet.