dertra

Plural of dertrum. dertron (dêr'tron), n. Same as dertrum. dertrotheca (der-tro-theʻkä), n. δέρτρον, & vulture's beak (see dertrum), + θήκη, a sheath.] In ornith., the integument of the dertrum, however distinguished from the rest of the covering of the beak. It is quite distinct in some birds, as petrels. dertrum (dêr'trum), n.; pl. dertra (-tra). [NL., also dertron, profe ion of extreme poverty, lit. poor, indigent, being equiv. to Ar. faqir, a fakir, lit. poor, indigent: see fakir.] A Mohammedan monk, profe ing poverty, ty, humility, and chastity; a Mohammedan fakir. There are thirty-six orders of regular dervishes, who for the most part observe celibacy, and live in convents of not more than forty persous, under the supervision of a sheik or elder. Some, however, are permitted to marry and live with their families, but are required to spend at least two nights of each week in the monastery. The novitiate is severe, and the rules of the orders are strict. They are generally divided into two cla es, viz.: spinning or whirling dervishes (Mev levis ) and howling dervishes ( Rufais ). To the violent circular dances and pirouetting of the spinning dervishes the latter add vociferous shouting and cries to Allah. The most important order of dervishes is that of the Mevlevis, whose monasteries (Turkish tekye ) are found at Konieh in Asia Minor, at Constantinople, and elsewhere. And many of these Daruises there maintained, to look to his Sepulchre, and to receiue the offerings of such as Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 308. come. A small Gothic chapel... is now converted into a mosque, belonging to a Mahometan convent, in which there is only one derviche. Pococke , Description of the East, II. i. 28. There were dervishes with beards stained of a fiery-red color, and wearing queer conical hats, who, if they did not regularly belong to the howling sect of Constantinople, most decidedly showed themselves qualified for admi ion to it by the fashion in which they yelled, screamed, and groaned, exhorting me in the name of the ble ed Ali, and the Imams Ha an and Hu ein, not forgetting Haziret Aba , and many other holy people, to give them charity. O'Donovan, Merv, x. derrick-car (der'ik-kär), n. A railroad-car upon which a small derrick is mounted, used Des argues's theorem. See theorem . especially for clearing the line of wrecks or desartt, a. and n. An obsolete form of ' desert1 . other obstructions. derrick-crane (der'ik-krān), n. A crane in which the post is supported by fixed stays in the rear and the jib is pivoted like the boom of a derrick. It has the radial motion of a derrick without its freedom of circular motion, the travel of the load being limited by the fixed stays.