Dag

[See DAGGER.] A dagger.-A kind of handgun or pistol, formerly used. -[A. S. daag .] A leather string, or latchet. -v. a. [From DAGGLE.] To daggle; to bemire. (Vulgar.) -v. n. To become cloudy, misty, or opaque. (R.) Dag'ger, n. [Fr. dague ; D. dagge ; Ir. duigear ; Arm. duger; Swed. and Goth. daggert ; probably allied to Heb. dakar , to stab.] A short sword, or long knife. This weapon was in use among the Franks as early as the sixth century. In the twelfth century it is mentioned as a " cultellus qui dicitur dagger ," and Wal singh am in the 15th century calls it coustel , or dagger . Toward the close of the 13th century, it was used as part of the knightly equipment; and about this time it was called the misericorde because in the last struggle the uplifted D. caused the discomfited fighter to sue for mercy. Towards the end of the 14th century, knights always wore a D. suspended by a cord or chain to the right side, and it was even sometimes used as a mi ile weapon. At this time it was carried by citizens, yeomen, sailors, and even ladies. (Printing.) A mark of reference used in printed works, in the form of a dagger, thus†. (Sometimes called obelisk .) To look or speak daggers , to look or speak angrily or fiercely, as if with hostile intent. "I will speak daggers to her, but use none."-Shaks. -v. a. To use a dagger; to stab with a poniard or dagger. Dag'ger's-drawing, n. Act of drawing daggers, hence, approach to a quarrel, an open attack, or violence. "I have heard of a quarrel in a tavern, where all were at dag ger's-drawing."-Swift. Dag'gers, in Virginia, a post-village of Botetourt county. Dag'gett, in Pennsylvania, a post-village of Tioga co., about 150 m. N. of Harris burg. Dag'gle, v . a . [From Swed. and Goth. dagg , dew.] To trail in mud or wet gra ; to befoul; to dirty, as the lower end of a garment; to dip in mire. -v. n. To run through mire, or mud and water. "Like a puppy daggled through the town." - Pope. Dag'gle-tail, n. A slattern; a person of slovenly or unclean habits. Dagh, a word which, in the Tartar language, signifies mountain ; thus, dagh - stan (Daghestan), a mountainous country; keshish - dagh , the actual name of Mount Olympus. Daghestan, ( dah - ges - tān ',) a region of W. Asia, comprising all the country lying W. of the Caspian Sea to the Caucasus, in Lat. 41° to 43° N., Lon. 46° to 50° E.; the greater part of which forms a prov. belonging to the Ru ian govt. of the Caucasus, while the rest is peopled by independent tribes. Area , abt. 17,500 sq. m.; of which Ru ian territory absorbs 10,600. Surface. Very mountainous, being traversed by outlying spurs and offshoots of the Caucasus range. Soil . Productive in the valleys; yielding grain, tobacco, hemp, saffron, and timber. Cattle, horses, a es, camels, and sheep are extensively reared. Min . Iron, lead, and sulphur. D. is almost entirely populated by nomadic Tartar tribes, the principal of which is the Lesghians, who have hitherto maintained their independence of Ru ia. Pop . Estim. at 2,000,000, of which abt. 440,000 are included in the Ru ian portion of the country. Dag'-lock, n. [Swed. and Goth. dagg, dew, and Eng. lock.] A soiled or bemired lock of wool on a sheep's body.