• D
adj. 1. E19 sl. – excellent, wonderful, first-rate
adj. 2. 1990s African-American sl. – ready
adj. 3. 20C teen & high school sl. – bad
n. 1. c1870 UK colloq. – a penny (pre-decimalisation 1971)
n. 2. 1879 sl., criminals’ usage; orig. Aust. & NZ – a detective
n. 3. Bk1902 sl. – a police spy; an informer
n. 4. M19 US criminals’ sl. – detention
n. 5. 1910s US sl. – a dollar
n. 6. 1950s drug culture sl. – heroin
n. 7. 1954 US drug culture sl. – Dilaudid™, a painkiller used as a recreational drug
n. 8. 1960s drug culture sl. – LSD
n. 9. 1967 US sl. – in sports: defense
n. 10. 1970s US sl. – Detroit
n. 11. 1970s drug culture sl. – phencyclidine
n. 12. 1976 US sl. – narcotics
n. 13. 1988 US sl. – in poker: the fourth player to the left of the dealer
n. 14. 1990s African-American sl. – the penis
n. 15. 1990s drug culture sl. – cannabis
n. 16. 1990s sl. – looking after oneself, adopting a defensive posture to potential threats
n. 17. 1991 US sl. – a demilitarised zone (DMZ)
n. 18. 1997 US sl. – a term of address, ‘dude’, young man to young man
• D.A.
n. 1. L19 Brit. euphemism – ‘domestic affliction,’ the menses; usually in the plural
n. 2. 1930s US sl. – a drug addict
n. 3. 1951 sl., orig. US – a hairstyle popular in the early 1950s; the hair was tapered and curled on the nape of the neck like the feathers of a duck’s tail
n. 4. 1970s US college sl. – a fool, an idiot (Dumb-Ass)
n. 5. 1970s African-American sl. – a term of contempt, a dog’s ass
• DA
n. 1. 1851 esp. Sc. usage – a child’s name for father
n. 2. 1949 Amer. dial. – a child’s Black nurse
vb. 1866 Sc. – to live, to experience
• THE DA
n. 1960s Irish sl. – a respectful or affectionate form for father, used by both adults and children
• DAB
adj. 1. 18C colloq. – clever, skilful or skilled; expert; very conversant
adj. 2. c1845 back-slang – bad
n. 1. 1691 – one skilful or proficient at anything; an expert, an adept
n. 2. 1706 Eng. dial. – a blow or slap, generally with the hand
n. 3. 1729 – a small or trifling amount, as of money given
n. 4. 1730 – an untidy woman, a drab; a term of contempt
n. 5. 1797 – a small child, a chit
n. 6. 1812 sl. – a bed
n. 7. c1850 sl. – the corpse of a drowned impoverished, outcast woman
n. 8. 1861 US sl. – a try; a crack
n. 9. 1880 Sc. – a snatch or clutch
n. 10. 19C Brit. colloq. – a flat fish of any kind
n. 11. L19 sl. – a pimp, esp. a bawd
n. 12. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a slight meal, a snack
n. 13. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a small legacy
n. 14. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a sum of money
n. 15. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – an insignificant person
n. 16. 1926 UK police usage – a fingerprint; usually in the plural
n. 17. 1929 Sc. – a fine rain, a drizzle
n. 18. 1968 Amer. dial. – a small marble
n. 19. 1969 UK cricket sl. – a batman’s stroke that deflects the ball gently behind the wicket
n. 20. 1970 NZ rugby sl. – a short, darting run with the ball
n. 21. 1980s UK drug culture sl. – a small portion of cocaine or other powdered drug, taken by dabbing one’s finger into a pile or packet
n. 22. 1996 UK sl. – a criminal charge; a prison disciplinary charge
vb. 1. 1730 – to strike with a light blow, as with the back of the hand
vb. 2. 1806 Sc. – to pierce slightly, to stab
vb. 3. 1835 Sc. obs. – to study anything in a superficial manner
vb. 4. 1866 Sc. – to push, to shove smartly
vb. 5. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to eat
vb. 6. 1940s UK police & criminals’ sl. – to take a suspect’s fingerprints
vb. 7. 1985 UK sl. – of a batsman in cricket: to play a tentative stroke that gently deflects the ball behind the wicket
vb. 8. 1992 US mountain biking sl.- to touch the ground unintentionally with any part of the body
vb. 9. 2001 UK sl. – to ingest a powdered drug by sucking or licking the powder collected on a moistened finger
• DABACH
n. 1. 1825 Sc. – a stroke, a blow
n. 2. 1939 Sc. – an expert
vb. 1939 Sc. – to poke, to thrust, to prod
• DABAL
n. 1929 Sc. – a wet, swampy piece of land
• DAB AT SOMEONE’S KAIM
vb. 1894 Sc. – to nag
• DABBER
n. 1. 1866 Sc. – wrangling, quarreling
n. 2. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a pointed retort
vb. 1. 1825 Sc. – to confound or stupefy one, by talking so rapidly that one cannot understand what is said
vb. 2. 1825 Sc. – to quarrel, to wrangle
vb. 3. 1854 Eng. dial. – to fade, to droop, to wither; to soil
• DABBERED
adj. 1825 Sc. – confused, ‘stumped’
• DABBERIN’
adj. 1866 Sc. – quarrelsome
• DABBERLOCKS
n. 1. 1825 Sc. – hair hanging in lank, tangled and separate locks
n. 2. 1866 Sc. – a tall, uncomely person; commonly used as a term of disrespect
• DABBER MOLL
n. M19 UK criminals’ sl. – a cunning woman; a sharper
• DABBETY FAY!
int. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – an exclamation meaning ‘Give us faith’
• DABBISH IT!
int. 1869 Eng. dial. – an exclamation of surprise or disappointment
• DABBIT
n. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a small quantity
• DABBLE
n. L19 UK criminals’ sl. – stolen property
vb. 1. 1575 – to wet by splashing, as in running through a puddle or wading about in shallow water, etc.
vb. 2. 1575 – to soil with splashes of any liquid
vb. 3. 1869 Sc. – to wrangle, to quarrel
vb. 4. Bk1900 Sc. – to confound or stupefy with talk
vb. 5. 1910s drug culture sl. – to use narcotics in moderation
vb. 6. 1938 Amer. dial. – to wash or rinse quickly
vb. 7. 1996 UK sl. – to experiment with homosexuality
vb. 8. 1996 UK sl. – to operate an (occasional) trade in stolen or illegal goods, esp. antiques or drugs
• DABBLED
adj. 1847 Sc. – bemused, distraught
• DABBLE-DACHIE
n. 1900 Sc. – one who splashes a great deal when doing a washing
• DABBLE-DOCK
n. 1824 Sc. obs. – a person ‘battered with storms, having all his clothes wet’
• DABBLER
n. 1. M19 US criminals’ sl. – one who associates with thieves
n. 2. 1940s furniture trade usage – a black marketeer in furniture
• DABBLESOME
adj. 1866 nonce word – meddling, tampering, interfering with
• DABBLY
adj. 1879 Eng. dial. – of the weather: wet, rainy, showery, damp
• DABBY
adj. 1. 1581 – damp, moist
adj. 2. a1825 – of clothes: wet and clinging to the body
• DABBY-NOINTER
n. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a dirty person
• DAB-DAB
n. 20C Royal Navy sl. – a seaman
vb. 1990 US prison sl. – to participate in homosexual sex
• DAB DOWN
vb. 19C colloq. – to hand over; to pay; to shell out
• DAB-DUMPS
n. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – the small pools left on the beach when the tide has fallen
• DABE
vb. M19 UK criminals’ sl. – to give
• DABERLACK
n. 1866 Sc. – a tall, uncomely person; commonly used as a term of disrespect
• DABERLACKS
n. 1825 Sc. – hair hanging in lank, tangled and separate locks
• DABERLICK
n. 1. Bk1900 Sc. – a tall, uncomely person; commonly a term of disrespect
n. 2. Bk1900 Sc. – the hair of the head when hanging in lank, tangled, and separate locks
• DAB-HAND
n. 1828 colloq. – one skilful or proficient at anything; an expert; a clever workman
• DABHENO
adj. M19 costermongers’ back-slang – bad
n. 1851 costermongers’ back-slang – something bad, usually a poor market
• DAB IN THE DOOK
n. 1910s military sl. – a tip
• A DAB IN THE FIST
n. 1. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a bribe; a gratuity
n. 2. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a small legacy
• A DAB IN THE HAND
n. 1. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a bribe; a gratuity
n. 2. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a small legacy
• DAB IT UP (WITH)
vb. 1. E19 sl. – of a man and woman: to cohabit
vb. 2. c1820 colloq. – to run up a credit at a public house
• DABLET
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a small amount; a bit
• DAB NEBS WITH ANYONE
vb. 1883 Eng. dial. – to kiss, to ‘bill and coo’
• DAB ON
vb. 20C Brit. sl. – to sign on at the unemployment office in order to get benefit
• DAB OUT
vb. c1860 lower classes’ usage – to do the laundry; to wash
• DAB!, QUOTH DAWKINS WHEN HE HIT HIS WIFE ON THE ARSE WITH A POUND OF BUTTER
int. M18 sl. – applied to impacts
• DABRICH
adj. c1800 Sc. – poor, needy
• DABRIFIED
adj. 1895 Eng. dial – faded
• DABS
n. 1. L18 sl. – the fingers
n. 2. 1887 Brit. sl. – a dabster; an expert
n. 3. 1926 Brit. sl. – fingerprints
• DABSTER
n. 1. 1708 colloq. – a clever workman; an expert in any business; one skilled at anything; an adept; a versatile person
n. 2. 1900s sl. – something excellent
• DABSTER HAND
n. 1968 Amer. Western sl. – a cowboy expert at his work
• DAB THE PAINT
vb. M19 sl. – in boxing: to jab with the fist
• DAB-TOE
n. 20C Royal Navy sl. – a seaman
• DABTROS
n. 1859 back-slang – a bad sort, an unpleasant person
• DACCA
n. 1970s Aust. sl. – marijuana
• DACE
n. 1. L17 cant – twopence
n. 2. M19 US sl. – two cents
• DACEHEAD
n. E19 sl. – a fool
• DACEY
adj. 1876 Anglo-Indian colloq. – of native Indian origin
• DACHA
adj. 1996 UK polari sl. – ten
n. M19 sl. – the number 10
• DACHAN
n. 1905 Sc. obs. – a puny dwarfish creature
• DACHA-ONE
n. M19 sl. – 11 pence
• DACHA-SALTEE
n. 1850 sl. – tenpence
• DACHAU
n. 1968 US Vietnam War usage – any military stockade
• DACHEN
vb. 1866 Sc. – of wind: to lull or abate
• DACHS
n. 1886 UK sl. – a dachshund
• DACHSHUND
n. 20C Brit. sl. – a large piece of excrement
• DACHSIE; DACHSY
n. 1961 UK sl.- a dachshund
• DACIOUS
adj. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – impudent, rude
• DACITY
n. 1636 Eng. dial. – activity, energy
• DACK
vb. 20C Aust. sl. – to pull another’s trousers down as a prank
• DACKER
adj. 1. 1887 Sc. – hesitating, uncertain, undecided; said of a person who can’t make up his mind, and to the weather when unsettled
adj. 2. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – dim of sight
n. 1. 1690 Sc. – an official search
n. 2. 1768 Sc. & Eng. dial. obs. – a struggle; a noisy, wrangling dispute
n. 3. 1808 Sc. obs. – uncertainty, a state of suspense or hesitation; also used of unsettled weather; a lull
n. 4. 1813 Sc. obs. – the fading of the fire when its heat abates
n. 5. 1835 Sc. – a stroll
n. 6. 1923 Sc. – a hesitating step
vb. 1. 1634 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to search, examine
vb. 2. 1668 Eng. dial. – to waver, to totter, to stagger
vb. 3. 1700 Sc. – to search a house or person for stolen goods; to search a house by official warrant
vb. 4. 1703 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to work in an irregular or pottering way
vb. 5. 1818 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to go about slowly, idly or carelessly; to saunter; to wander
vb. 6. 1818 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to walk totteringly as from feebleness or infirmity; to toddle
vb. 7. 1818 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to remain or hang on in a state of irresolution; to vacillate, equivocate, waver
vb. 8. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to dare, to challenge, to provoke
vb. 9. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to wrangle
vb. 10. 1927 Sc. – to interfere
vb. 11. 1931 Sc. – to strike a bargain
• DACKERER
n. 1920 Sc. – an official searcher under a sheriff’s warrant
• DACKLE
n. 1923 Sc. – a wrangle; a disturbance
vb. 1. 1825 Sc. – to hesitate .
vb. 2. 1913 Sc. – to dawdle, to loiter, to slacken one’s pace
vb. 3. 1934 Sc. – to cause to hesitate, to impede, to hold back
• DACKLIE
adj. 1. 1825 Sc. obs. – of a swarthy complexion
adj. 2. 1825 Sc. obs. – pale, having a sickly appearance
• DACKLIN
n. 1808 Sc. obs. – a slight shower
• DACKLING
adj. 1808 Sc. – slow, dilatory
• DACKS
n. 1. 1970 Aust. sl. – shorts or trousers
n. 2. 20C Aust. sl. – a pair of underpants
• DACK UP
vb. 1991 NZ sl. – to light up or smoke a marijuana joint
• DACRE
vb. 1825 Sc. obs. – to inflict corporal punishment on one
• DACRYOPOETIC
adj. 18C – producing or causing tears, like a ‘tear-jerker’ screenplay
Back to INDEX D
Back to DICTIONARY
Lexicophilia 