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bird's tail spread), and a mortise, or socket, into which it fits tightly, making an interlocking joint between two pieces which resists pulling a part in all directions except one. Dovetail molding (Arch.), a molding of any convex section arranged in a sort of zigzag, like a series of dovetails. -- Dovetail saw (Carp…

A pin, or block, of wood or metal, fitting into holes in the abutting portions of two pieces, and being partly in one piece and partly in the other, to keep them in their proper relative position.

A bank or rounded hillock of sand thrown up by the wind along or near the shore; a flattish-topped hill; -- usually in the plural. Hills afford prospects, as they must needs acknowledge who have been on the downs of Sussex. Ray. She went by dale, and she went by down. Tennyson.

tice the art, of delineation; to sketch; to form figures or pictures. "Skill in drawing." Locke.

heavenly theme. Keble. They dream on in a constant course of reading, but not digesting. Locke.

A drove or flock, as of cattle, sheep, birds. [Obs.] Cattle coming over the bridge (with their great drift doing much damage to the high ways). Fuller.

amond drill. See under Diamond. -- Drill jig. See under Jig. -- Drill pin, the pin in a lock which enters the hollow stem of the key. -- Drill sergeant (Mil.), a noncommissioned officer whose office it is to instruct soldiers as to their duties, and to train them to military exercises and evolutions. -- Vertical dr…

ttle, and drive them to market. Why, that's spoken like an honest drover; so they sell bullocks. Shak.

ions. Macaulay. Paradise was a place of bliss . . . without drudgery and with out sorrow. Locke.

One of the cylindrical, or nearly cylindrical, blocks, of which the shaft of a column is composed; also, a vertical wall, whether circular or polygonal in plan, carrying a cupola or dome. (e) (Mach.)

Slow of understanding; wanting readiness of apprehension; stupid; doltish; blockish. "Dull at classical learning." Thackeray. She is not bred so dull but she can learn. Shak.

A blockhead; a dolt. Ascham.

Absence of mind; revery. Locke.

A dunce; a numskull; a blockhead. Beau. & Fl.

s so eager, as artists call it, that it will as little endure the hammer as glass itself. Locke.

little or cautiously, as by pressing forward edgewise; as, edging their chairs forwards. Locke.

to make soft and delicate; to weaken. It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds. Locke.

ical organ and are able to give powerful shocks; -- called also sheathfish. -- Electric clock. See under Clock, and see Electro-chronograph. -- Electric current, a current or stream of electricity traversing a closed circuit formed of conducting substances, or passing by means of conductors from one body to another w…

nomenon occurs, or of its duration. It has an electro-magnetic register connected with a clock. See Chronograph.

Condition of being elevated; height; exaltation. "Degrees of elevation above us." Locke. His style . . . wanted a little elevation. Sir H. Wotton.