DASH
Dash, n.
1. Violent striking together of two bodies; collision; crash.
2. A sudden check; abashment; frustration; ruin; as, his hopes received a dash.
3. A slight admixture, infusion, or adulteration; a partial overspreading; as, wine with a dash of water; red with a dash of purple. Innocence when it has in it a dash of folly. Addison.
4. A rapid movement, esp. one of short duration; a quick stroke or blow; a sudden onset or rush; as, a bold dash at the enemy; a dash of rain. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Shak.
5. Energy in style or action; animation; spirit.
6. A vain show; a blustering parade; a flourish; as, to make or cut a great dash. [Low]
7. (Punctuation)
Defn: A mark or line [—], in writing or printing, denoting a sudden break, stop, or transition in a sentence, or an abrupt change in its construction, a long or significant pause, or an unexpected or epigrammatic turn of sentiment. Dashes are also sometimes used instead of marks or parenthesis. John Wilson.
8. (Mus.) (a) The sign of staccato, a small mark [. (b) The line drawn through a figure in the thorough bass, as a direction to raise the interval a semitone.