Исторический английский фразеологический словарь. Виктор Евгеньевич Никитин
southern states of America.
Dolly Varden. The name of a flowered skirt, answering to the description of that worn by Dolly Varden in Dickens’s “Barnaby Rudge.” This dress material became very popular after the novel was published. It also gave rise to a song, of which the burden was: “Dressed in a Dolly Varden.”
Dolphin. A gold coin introduced by Charles V. of France, also Dauphin of Vienne.
Dominica. Expresses the Spanish for Sunday, the day on which Columbus discovered this island.
Dominicans. Friars of the Order of St Dominic; also called Black Friars, from their habits.
Dominoes. A game invented by two French monks, who amused themselves with square, flat stones marked with spots. The winner declared his victory by reciting the first line of the Vesper service: “Dixit Dominus Domino Meo.” When, later, the game became the recreation of the whole convent, the Vesper line was abbreviated into “Domino,” and the stones themselves received the name of “Dominoes.”
Don. A corruption of the Celtic tain, river.
Donatists. A sect of the fourth century, adherents of Donatus, Bishop of Numidia.
Doncaster St Leger. The stakes at Doncaster races founded by Colonel Anthony St Leger in 1776.
Donegal. Gaelic for the “fortress of the west”–viz. Donegal Castle, held by the O’Donnels of Tyrconnel.
Donet. The old name for a Grammar, after Donatus, the grammarian and preceptor of St Jerome.
Donkey. An ass, from its dun colour.
Don’t care a Dam. When this expression first obtained currency a dam was the smallest Hindoo coin, not worth an English farthing.
80Don’t care a Jot. See “Iota.”
Doomster. The official in the Scottish High Court who pronounced the doom to the prisoner, and also acted as executioner. In Jersey and the Isle of Man a judge is styled a “Deemster.”
Dope Habit. An Americanism for the morphia habit. “Dope” is the Chinese word for opium. This in the United States is now applied to all kinds of strong drugs or bromides prepared from opium.
Dorcas Society. From the passage in Acts ix. 39: “And all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.”
Dorchester. The Roman camp in the district of the Dwr-trigs or water dwellers. See “Dorset.”
Dorset. The Anglo-Saxon Dwrset, or water settlement, so called from the British tribe the Dwr-trigs, “water dwellers,” who peopled it.
Dorset Square. After Viscount Portman, the ground landlord, who, before he was raised to the peerage, was for many years Member for Dorsetshire.
Dorset Street. From the mansion and grounds of the Earl of Dorset of the Restoration period. Here stood also the Dorset Gardens Theatre.
Doss. Slang for a sleep, a shakedown. From the old word dossel, a bundle of hay or straw, whence was derived Doss, a straw bed.
Doss-house. A common lodging-house. See “Doss.”
Douay Bible. The Old Testament translation of the Latin Vulgate printed at the English College at Douay, France, in 1609.
Doublet. So called because it was double lined or wadded, originally for purposes of defence.
Douglas. From its situation at the juncture of the two streams, the Dhoo, black, and Glass, grey.
Douro. From the Celtic Dwr, water.
81Dover House. The residence of the Hon. George Agar Ellis, afterwards Lord Dover.
Dover Street. After Henry Jermyn, Lord Dover, who died at his residence here in 1782.
Dowager. The widow of a person of high rank, because she enjoyed a substantial dower or dowry for her maintenance during life.
Dowgate. From the Celtic Dwr, water. Hence a water gate on the north bank of the Thames.
Downing Street. From the mansion of Sir George Downing, M.P., of the Restoration period.
Down with the Dust. A gold miner’s expression in the Far West, where money is scarce and necessary commodities are in general bartered for with gold dust.
Doyley. From the Brothers Doyley, linen drapers in the Strand, who introduced this species of table napery.
Do your Level Best. This expression means that, while striving to the utmost you must also act strictly straightforward.
Drachenfels. German for “dragon rocks.” Here Siegfried, the hero of the Niebelungenlied, slew the dragon.
Draft on Aldgate Pump. A punning phrase for a worthless bill or cheque.
Draggletail. A slovenly woman who allows her skirts to draggle or trail in the mire of the street.
Dragoman. From the Turkish drukeman, an interpreter. A dragoman is in the East what a “Cicerone” is in Italy and elsewhere in Western Europe.
Dragoons. From the ancient musket called a dragon, or “spitfire.” The muzzle was embellished with a representation of a dragon.
Draper. One who dealt in cloth for draping only, as distinct from a mercer, milliner, or mantle-maker.
Drapers’ Gardens. The property of the Drapers’ Company, whose hall is situated here.
82Drat it. A corruption of “Odd rot it,” from the old oath, “God rot them.”
Drawer. The old name for an inn or tavern keeper’s assistant, who drew the beer from the casks.
Drawing-room. Originally “Withdrawing-room” to which the ladies withdrew after dinner while the gentlemen sat over their wine.
Draw it mild. Originally a tavern phrase, when anyone preferred ordinary ale to hot spiced liquor.
Draw the Long Bow. In allusion to the exaggerated skill of the English archers prior to the introduction of gunpowder.
Dress Circle. That portion of a theatre which, before the introduction of stalls, was set apart for the superior sections of the audience.
Dressed up to the Knocker. To the extreme height of his resources. Before the establishment of the modern police system door knockers were placed as high as possible to prevent them from being wrenched off by sportive wags after nightfall.
Dresser. The kitchen sideboard, on which the meat was dressed before serving it up in the dining-chamber. The collection of cups, plates, and dishes which distinguishes a dresser originally had a place on a wide shelf or board over this meat dresser; hence cup-board.
Drinks like a Fish. Ready to swallow any quantity of liquor that may be offered. A great many fish have their mouths wide open whilst swimming.
Drive a Bargain. An expression meaning to knock down the original price asked, in punning allusion to “driving” a nail.
Drop o’ the Crater. See “Mountain Dew.”
Druid. In the Celtic Derwydd, derived from dewr, oak, and gwydd, knowledge. A priest who worshipped and offered sacrifices under an oak.
83Drum. The name for a fashionable evening party of bygone days, from the noise made by the card players.
Drummers. An Americanism for commercial travellers, who are engaged in beating up trade.
Drunkard’s Cloak. A large wooden crinoline that hung from a drunkard’s neck to the ground, causing every bone in his body to ache owing to the weight resting on his shoulders. The instrument resembled an inverted flower pot, having a hole in the top for his head to be thrust through. Under this drastic treatment he soon became sober.
Drunk as a Fiddler. The fiddler was generally incapable of discoursing further music half way through the night’s jollification, because the dancers freely plied him with drink.
Drunk as a Lord. When George the Third was King, and long afterwards, the fine old English gentleman acted up to his character by using strong language and imbibing strong potations. To be “drunk as