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Stocking hose, or spatterdashes, in lieu of boots. Shak.

a float intended to support persons who have fallen into the water, until a boat can be dispatched to save them. -- Nut or Nun buoy, a buoy large in the middle, and tapering nearly to a point at each end. -- To stream the buoy, to let the anchor buoy fall by the ship's side into the water, before letting go the ancho…

uty, or mission. The daughter of the King of France, On serious business, craving quick despatch, Importunes personal conference. Shak. What business has the tortoise among the clouds L'Estrange.

all godly men's doings. Strype. Syn. asperse; slander; defame; vilify; traduce; belie; bespatter; blacken; libel. See Asperse.

An igneous rock of feldspathic composition, lamellar in structure, and clinking under the hammer. See Phonolite.

One who comprehends; one who has attained to a full knowledge. [Obs.] When I shall have dispatched this weary pilgrimage, and from a traveler shall come to be a comprehensor, farewell faith and welcome vision. Bp. Hall.

A messenger sent with haste to convey letters or dispatches, usually on public busuness. The wary Bassa . . . by speedy couriers, advertised Solyman of the enemy's purpose. Knolles.

cover, in an envelope, or within a letter; -- said of a written message. Letters . . . dispatched under cover to her ladyship. Thackeray.

To wet by little dips or strokes; to spatter; to sprinkle; to moisten; to wet. "Bright hair dabbled in blood." Shak.

dulterate, by throwing in something of an inferior quality; to overspread partially; to bespatter; to touch here and there; as, to dash wine with water; to dash paint upon a picture. I take care to dash the character with such particular circumstance as may prevent ill-natured applications. Addison. The very source and…

To send off with speed; to dispatch. [Obs.] Knolles. Then they dispeeded themselves of the Cid and of their mother-in-law, DoSouthey.

Occasioning pain or grief; painful. Their dispatch is quick, and less dolorous than the paw of the bear or teeth of the lion. Dr. H. More. -- Dol"or*ous*ly, adv. -- Dol"or*ous*ness, n.

Violent or rapid motion; a rushing onward or away; esp., a forced or hurried dispatch of business. The Murdstonian drive in business. M. Arnold.

; hence, a copy; a transcript; a counterpart. I send a duplicate both of it and my last dispatch. Sir W. Temple.

idal or disk-shaped, composed of many united plates, and covered with movable spines. See Spatangoid, Clypeastroid. [Written also Echinidea, and Echinoida.]

Of or pertaining to certain veins of feldspathic or porphyritic rock crossing metalliferous veins in the mining districts of Cornwall; as, an elvan course.

One dispatched upon an errand or mission; a messenger; esp., a person deputed by a sovereign or a government to negotiate a treaty, or transact other business, with a foreign sovereign or government; a minister accredited to a foreign government. An envoy's rank is below that of an ambassador.

A compact feldspathic rock; felsite. See Felsite.

Expedition; haste; dispatch. [Obs.] Making hither with all due expedience. Shak.

To despatch; to send forth; to issue officially. Such charters be expedited of course. Bacon.