lissima_, or
eider-duck.

DUR-MAST. An inferior oak of more rapid growth than the true English.

DUST. The refuse of biscuit in the bread-room. Also used for money. This
term probably got into use in India, where the boat hire on the Ganges
was added to by the Ghat-Manjees, in the way of "Dustooree." Moreover, a
tumult or uproar.

DUTCH. Language, or rather gibberish, which cannot be understood by a
listener. (_See_ DOUBLE DUTCH.)

DUTCH-CAPER. A light-armed vessel of the seventeenth century, adapted
for privateering, and much used by the Dutch.

DUTCH CONSOLATION. "Whatever ill befalls you, there's somebody that's
worse;" or "It's very unfortunate; but thank God it's no worse."

DUTCH COURAGE. The excitement inspired by drinking spirits; false
energy.

DUTCH EEL-SKUYT. A flat-bottomed somewhat cutter-rigged sea-boat,
carrying lee-boards, fitted with two water-tight bulk-heads, making a
well for keeping live fish in, the water being admitted through
perforated plates fastened on inside the ribs.

DUTCHIFYING. A term used for converting square sterns to round ones.

DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES. The patch of blue sky often seen when a gale is
breaking, is said to be, however small, "enough to make a pair of
breeches for a Dutchman." Others assign the habiliment to a Welshman,
but give no authority for the assumption.

DUTCH PLAICE. The _Pleuronectes platessa_. When small, it is called
fleak; when large, Dutch plaice.

DUTCH PUMP. A punishment so contrived that, if the prisoner would not
pump hard, he was drowned.

DUTCH RECKONING. A bad day's work, all in the wrong.

DUTCH REDS. High-smoked herrings prepared in Holland.

DUTIES. Taxes levied by the custom-house upon goods exported or
imported.

DUTTEES. Coarse brown calicoes of India.

DUTY. The exercise of those functions which belong to the service, and
are carried out from the highest to the lowest.

DWANG-STAFF. This is otherwise the _wrain-staff_ (which see).

DYCE. A langridge for the old hail-shot pieces.

DYCE, OR THYST, "VERY WELL DYCE." (_See_ THUS.)

DYELLE. A kind of mud-drag used for cleaning rivers on our eastern
coasts.

DYING MAN'S DINNER. A snatch of refreshment when the ship is in extreme
danger.

DYKE. From the Anglo-Saxon _dic_, a mound or bank; yet in some parts of
England the word means a ditch.

DYKE-CAM. A ditch-bank.

DYNAMOMETER. An instrument for measuring the amount of force, and used
for indicating the thrust or force