Derangement Syndrome
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
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derby
To come down with the derbies; to pay the money.
Derby Kelly
belly
Derby Scheme
As a compromise with conscription the Government introduced a
Derby Stakes
Started by Edward Stanley, the twelfth Earl of Derby, in 1780, the year after his establishment of the Oaks stakes fe.v.).
derby-dog
A masterless animal, who is sure to appear as soon as the Epsom course is cleared for the great race of the season. No year passes without a dog running between the two dense lines of spectators and searching in vain for an outlet, and he is almost as eagerly looked for as are the "preliminary canters." It is said that when no DERBY-DOG appears on the course between Tattenham Corner and the judge’s box, just before the start, a dead-heat will take place between all the placed horses.
derg
A dragon.
derrick
The name of the finisher of the law, or hangman about the year 1608.--'For he rides his circuit with the Devil, and Derrick must be his host, and Tiburne the inne at which he will lighte.' Vide Bellman of London, in art. PRIGGIN LAW.--'At the gallows, where I leave them, as to the haven at which they must all cast anchor, if Derrick's cables do but hold.' Ibid.
derrick
An apparatus for raising sunken ships, &c. The term is curiously derived from a hangman of that name frequently mentioned in Old Plays, as in the Bellman of London, 1616.
derwent water
Lord Derwentwater's lights. A local name for the Aurora Boreahs; James, Earl of Derwentwater, was beheaded for re- bellion February 24th, 1716, and it is said that the northern lights were unusually brilliant that night.
dese
these
Desert Rats
Sobriquet of the 7th Armoured Division which, already in the Western Desert before the outbreak of war in 1939, served in the Eighth Army throughout the
desk jockey
An office worker who spends most of their time sitting at a desk
despatchers
False dice with two sets of numbers, and, of course, no low pips. So called because they bring the matter to a speedy issue. Great skill in palming is necessary for their successful use.
desperate diseases must have desperate remedies
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
despo
Desperate.
detective work
careful investigation and analysis to solve a problem
Deucalion's Flood
The Deluge, of Greek legend. Deucalion was son of Prometheus and Clymene, and was king of Phthia, m Thessaly.
deuce
The devil.—Old. Stated by Junius and others to be from DEUS or ZEUS.
deusea ville stampers
Country carriers. Cant.
developing countries
nations with lower economic output and standards of living
devil
The gizzard of a turkey or fowl, scored, peppered, salted and broiled: it derives its appellation from being hot in the mouth.
devil
Among barristers, to get up the facts of a case for a leader; to arrange everything in the most comprehensive form, so that the Q.C. or Serjeant can absorb the question without much trouble. DEVILLING is juniors’ work, but much depends on it, and on the ability with which it is done.
devil dancing
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
devil dodger
A clergyman; also a person who goes sometimes to church and sometimes to meeting.
devil drawer
A miserable painter.
devil in disguise
Someone or something that appears harmless but is actually evil or harmful
devil lies in the details
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
devil may care
Wildly reckless; also a reckless fellow.
devil on two sticks
The English name of Le Sage's novel Le diable boiteux (1707), in which
devil take the hindmost
Every person for themselves, with no concern for others' well-being
devil's advocate
Someone who argues against an idea to test its validity
devil's bird
A Scots name for the yellow bunting; from its note, deil,
devil's bones
Dice, which are made of bones and lead to rum. Devil's books, or Devil's picture-book.
Devil's Bridge
There is a village in Cardigan- shire of this name, so called because of its double bridge across a gorge of the river
devil's candle
So the Arabs call the man- drake, from its shining appearance at night.
devil's candlestick
The common stmkhorn fungus, Phallus impudicus; also called the devil's horn and the devil's stinkpot.
devil's cream
semen
devil's dandruff
Cocaine.
devil's daughter
It is said of one who has a termagant for his wife, that he has married the Devil's daughter, and lives with the old folks.
devil's daughter
A shrew. Cp. DEVIL'S DAUGHTER'S PORTION in PHRASES above.
devil's dozen
Thirteen; twelve, and one over for the devil. Cp. BAKER'S DOZEN.
devil's four-poster
A hand at whist with four clubs. It is said that such a hand is never a winning one. Cp. DEVIL'S BEDPOST above.
devil's guts
A surveyor's chain: so called by farmers, who do not like their land should be measured by their landlords.
devil's hedpost
In card games, the four of clubs. Cp. DEVIL'S FOUR-POSTER below.
devil's lettuce
Marijuana.
devil's livery
Black and yellow. Black for death, yellow for quarantine.
devil's luck
Unusually good luck, especially in a situation where it is not deserved
devil's luck
Astounding good luck. Persons always lucky were thought at one time to have compounded with the devil.
devil's rope
Barbed wire
devil's snuif-box
A puff-ball; a fungus full of dust; one of the genus Lycoperdon.
devilish
Very: an epithet which in the English vulgar language is made to agree with every quality or thing; as, devilish bad, devilish good; devilish sick, devilish well; devilish sweet, devilish sour; devilish hot, devilish cold, &c. &c.
devil’s books
A pack of playing-cards; a phrase of Presbyterian origin.—See FOUR KINGS.
devil’s dung
The fetid drug assafœtida.
devil’s livery
Black and yellow. From the mourning and quarantine uses of the colours.
devo
Devastated.
devoed
Devastated.
devotional habits
Horses weak in the knees, and apt to stumble and fall, are said to have these.—Stable.
Dew Ponds
On the heights of the chalk downs and in other places where there is no visible means of replenishment there are ponds which remain full in the heat of summer when ponds at lower levels dry up.
dew-beaters
Feet; "hold out your DEW-BEATERS till I take off the darbies."—Peveril of the Peak. Forby says the word is used in Norfolk for heavy shoes to resist wet.