doer (doer)

[ If we should now excommunicate all such wicked doers , there would be much ado in England. Latimer , 2d Sermon bef. Edw. VI., 1550. The doers of the law shall be justified. Rom. ii. 13. Tut, tut, my lord, we will not stand to prate: Talkers are no good doers . Shak., Rich. III., i. 3. Thy story I'll have written, and in gold too, In prose and verse, and by the ablest doers . Fletcher , Double Marriage, iv. 2. Specifically-2. In Scots law , an agent or attorney. does (duz). [Early mod. E. also dooes, do's, Shak., 1 Hen. IV., v. 1. Heaven's king who doffs himself our flesh to wear. Crashaw . Would I could doff my royal robes, and be One of the people who are ruled by me. the North American Indians, etc.; (3) the greyhounds , as the different kinds of greyhound, Irish hound, lurcher, Egyptian street-dog, etc.; (4) the hounds , as the blood hound, staghound, foxhound, harrier, beagle, pointer, set- ter, spaniel, springer, cocker, Blenheim dog, poodle, etc.; (5) the curs , including the terrier and its allies; (6) the mastiffs , including the different kinds of mastiff, bulldog, pug-dog, etc. All these are artificial varieties, having com- paratively little stability, their distinctive characters be- ing soon lost by reversion to a more generalized type if they are left to interbreed. This tendency to reversion requires to be constantly counteracted by "artificial selection" at the hands of breeders, in order that the several strains may be kept pure, and their peculiarities be perpetuated along the desired lines of specialization. The best-bred dogs, of whatever kind, are those furthest removed from an original or common type of structure. The differences between dogs of all kinds are vastly greater than those found among individuals of any species in a state of na- ture; so great that, were they not known to be artificial, the dog would represent several different genera of the family Canidæ in ordinary zoological cla ification. In fact, some genera, based upon actual and constant differ- ences in the dental formula, have been named in order to signalize certain structural modifications which are found to exist, affording an example of the evolution of generic characters as well as of specific differences. These varia- tions extend not only to size and general configuration, character of the pelage, and other outward features, but also to positive osteological and dental peculiarities, more marked probably than those of any other domesticated animals. The corresponding physiological and psycho- logical differences are equally decided, as witne ed in the dispositions and temperaments of dogs, their compara- tive docility, intelligence, etc., and consequently the uses to which they are or may be put. In the matter of size alone, for example, some toy dogs are tiny enough to stand easily on one of the fore paws of a large dog. Throughout the endle varieties, however, the influence of heredity is witne ed in the readine with which dogs interbreed with one another, and cro with wolves, foxes, and jack- als, bearing fertile progeny in all cases, and the readine with which they revert to the wild state of their several ancestors. See the names of the several breeds. See also And feeding high, and living soft, Grew plump and able-bodied; Until the grave churchwarden doff'd , The parson smirk'd and nodded. IMG:content-2981.png:[blocks in formation] Now is a dogge also dere that in a dych lygges. Alliterative Poems (ed. Morris), ii. 1792. Many pretty ridiculous aspersions are cast vpon dogges , so that it would make a dogge laugh to heare and vnder- stand them: as, I haue heard a man say, I am as hot as a wheel by engaging the teeth; a pawl. (i) pl . In ship - build- ing , the final supports which are knocked aside when a ship is launched; a dog shore. (j) In a lock, a tooth, pro- jection, tusk, or jag which acts as a detent. (k) A grab used to grasp well-tubes or-tools, to withdraw them from bored, drilled, or driven wells. (1) pl . Nippers used in wire-drawing. They resemble carpenters' strong pincers or pliers, and are sometimes closed by a sliding ring at the end of the strap or chain which slides down the handles of the nippers. - A dog's age, a comparatively long time; as, I haven't seen him in a dog's age. [Colloq.]-A dog's death, a humiliating or disgraceful death, such as is in- flicted upon a worthle or dangerous dog. Let neither my father nor mother get wit This dog's death I'm to die. A hair of the dog that bit him. See hairl . - Burrow- ing dog, the prairie-wolf or coyote, Canis latrans.- Cur- tal dog. See curtal.- Dalmatian dog, the coach-dog; an artificial breed of dogs, resembling the pointer in form and stature, but white in color, profusely spotted with black. It is trained to run under a vehicle, and is kept mainly as an appendage to an equipage, having little sagacity, and being practically worthle for other pur- poses. Also called Danish dog . - Derby dog. See Derby . - Dog Fo, Dog of Fo. See Fo.- Dog in the manger, a churlish fellow who will neither use a thing himself nor let another use it, or who from mere perversity stands in the way of the interest or enjoyment of another without benefiting himself: referring to the fable of an ill-natured dog which, stationing himself in a horse's manger, will not let the horse eat the food in it, although he cannot eat it himself. - Dog to or for the bowt, a dog used in shooting. Such dogs, being well trained and obedient, were taken to typify humble or subservient people. Davies . And eek to Januarie he gooth as lowe As evere dide a dogge for the bowe . indeed a dogge never sweats); as drunke as a dogge ; hee swore like a dogge ; and one told a man once that his wife was not to be beleev'd, for shee would lye like a dogge . John Taylor , The Worlde Runnes on Wheeles (Works, [1630), p. 232. He asks no angel's wings, no seraph's fire; But thinks, admitted to that equal sky, His faithful dog shall bear him company. 2. In distinguishing sex, a male dog, as op- posed to bitch ; hence sometimes used in com- position for the male of other animals, as in dog - fox, dog- ape .-3. pl . Canine quadrupeds in general; the family Canida (which see).-4. The prairie-dog. [Colloq., western U. S.] - 5. The dogfish. [Local, Eng.] -6. A mean, worthle fellow; a currish or sneaking scoun- drel: applied in reproach or contempt. A! dogg ! the deuyll the drowne! York Plays , p. 82. Whoever saw the like? what men have I?- Dogs ! cowards! dastards! - I would ne'er have fled, But that they left me midst my enemies. 7. A gay or rakish man, especially if young; a sport or gallant: applied, usually with an epi- thet ( young , impudent , etc.), in mild or humor- ous reprobation. I love the young dogs of this age. Johnson, in Boswell. Here, sir, I give my daughter to you, who are the most Sheridan, St. Patrick's Day, ii. 4. 8. In astron.: (a) [ cap .] One of two ancient constellations lying south of the zodiac, known as Canis Major and Canis Minor . See Canis. (b) The dog-star. The burnt air, when the Dog reigns, is not fouler Than thy contagious name. 9. A name of various mechanical devices, tools, and pieces of machinery. (a) pl . Andirons: specifically called fire - dogs . Dogs for andirons is still current in New England, and in Walter de Bibles worth I find chiens glo ed in the mar- gin by andirons. Lowell, Biglow Papers, Int. (6) Same as dog - head , 1. (c) A sort of iron hook or bar, with one or more sharp fangs or claws at one end, which IMG:content-2982.png:[blocks in formation] white color. Another breed is smaller and almost entire- ly black. Some breeds seem to be cro ed with hounds, mastiffs, etc. The Newfoundland dog is remarkable for its sagacity, patience, and good nature, and for its affec- tion for its master. No dog excels it as a water-dog, its broad half-webbed paws making it an excellent and pow- erful swimmer. - Pouched dog, a marsupial, the thyla- cine dasyure of Tasmania. See hyena , 2, and zebra - wolf . -Prairie dog. See prairie -dog.- To rain cats and dogs. See cat1 . - To the dogs, to waste, ruin, perdition, etc.: used with give , go , send , throw , etc. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs . Mat. vii. 6. Throw physic to the dogs , I'll none of it. B. Jonson, Epicœne, ii. 2. Pope . I have been pursued, dogged , and waylaid. On your crests sit fear and shame, And foul suspicion dog your name. a. Bench-dog. b . Ringor Span-dogs. c . Sling-dogs. may be fastened into a piece of wood or other heavy ar- ticle, for the purpose of moving it: used with various spe- cific prefixes. See cut. (d) An iron with fangs for fasten- Encyc. Brit ., XXXI. 345. It has novel features of construction, and is particular- ly intended for dogging small tapering logs. Sci. Amer., N. S., LVI. 170. dog 3. Naut., to grip, as a rope, to a spar or cable so that the parts bind on each other, to prevent slipping, and causing it to cling.