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A rapid, esp. one where the channel is narrowed between rock walls. [Northwestern U. S. & Canada]

Damask silk; silk woven with an elaborate pattern of flowers and the like. "A bed of ancient damask." W. Irving.

ctices dancing. The merry dancers, beams of the northern lights when they rise and fall alternately without any considerable change of length. See Aurora borealis, under Aurora.

A small sail carried at or near the stern of small boats; -- called also jigger, and mizzen.

The European black tern.

ancery; now, a separate office from which are sent graces or favors, cognizable in foro externo, such as appointments to benefices. The name is derived from the word datum, given or dated (with the indications of the time and place of granting the gift or favor).

The hypothetical line on the surface of the earth fixed by international or general agreement as a boundary on one side of which the same day shall have a different name and date in the calendar from its name and date on the other side.

. Did you . . . take a look at the grand picture . . . 'T is a melancholy daub, my lord. Sterne.

Curved arms of timber or iron, projecting over a ship's side of stern, having tackle to raise or lower a boat, swing it in on deck, rig it out for lowering, etc.; -- called also boat davits. Totten.

dows or other openings. -- Dead water (Naut.), the eddy water closing in under a ship's stern when sailing. -- Dead weight. (a) A heavy or oppressive burden. Dryden. (b) (Shipping) A ship's lading, when it consists of heavy goods; or, the heaviest part of a ship's cargo. (c) (Railroad) The weight of rolling stock, th…

A mass of timbers built into the bow and stern of a vessel to give solidity.

tes of death been opened unto thee Job xxxviii. 17. -- The second death, condemnation to eternal separation from God. Rev. ii. 11. -- To be the death of, to be the cause of death to; to make die. "It was one who should be the death of both his parents." Milton.

The quality of being debonair; good humor; gentleness; courtesy. Sterne.

That which is proper or becoming. The external decencies of worship. Atterbury. Those thousand decencies, that daily flow From all her words and actions. Milton.

ad declined. Thomson. And now fair Phoebus gan decline in haste His weary wagon to the western vale. Spenser.

To make decrees; -- used absolutely. Father eternal! thine is to decree; Mine, both in heaven and earth to do thy will. Milton.

Consisting of two rising and two falling clauses, placed in alternate opposition to each other; as, a decussated period.

To destroy or mar the face or external appearance of; to disfigure; to injure, spoil, or mar, by effacing or obliterating important features or portions of; as, to deface a monument; to deface an edifice; to deface writing; to deface a note, deed, or bond; to deface a record. "This high face defaced." Emerson. So by fa…

Full of defiance; bold; insolent; as, a defiant spirit or act. In attitude stern and defiant. Longfellow. -- De*fi"ant*ly, adv. -- De*fi"ant*ness, n.

A system of calisthenics patterned on the theories of François Delsarte (1811 -- 71), a French teacher of dramatic and musical expression.