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1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxiii. The stuff itself, which in the Western gin-shops goes generally by the name of 'blue ruin,' or 'short,' is here called . . . DUKE.
2. (cabmen's).—A horse. For synonyms, see Prad.
3. (thieves').—Any transaction in the shape of a burglary; e.g., 'I was Jemminy to their duke' = 'I was privy to the robbery.'
Duke Humphrey. To dine with
Duke Humphrey.—See Dine.
Duke of Limbs, subs. phr. (common).—An
awkward, uncouth
man; specifically one with ungainly
limbs. [Grose, 1785.]
Duke of York, verb. phr. (rhyming
slang).—To walk; also, to talk.
Dukes, subs. (common).—The
hands. For synonyms, see Bunch
of fives and Daddle.
1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., xl., 501. So I said I would not go at all if he put his dukes (hands) on me.
1888. Lic. Vict. Gazette, 27 Jan., p. 55, 3. The men . . . put up their dukes to fight for supremacy.
TO GREASE THE DUKES, verb. phr. (common).—To bribe; also to pay.
1883. J. W. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. I went to him and asked him if he was not going to grease my duke.
To put up the dukes, verb. phr. (common).—To put up one's hands for combat.
1885. Home Tidings, p. 369. 'Boxing Club Report.' The two contestants put up their dukes, and soon warmed up to their work.
Dukey.—See Dookie and Gaff.
Dulcamara, subs. (colloquial).—A
quack-doctor. [From the name
of a character in Donizetti's
l'Elixir d'Amour (1845).]
Dull in the Eye, adv. phr.
(common).—Intoxicated. For
synonyms, see Drinks and
Screwed.
Dull-swift, subs. (old).—A sluggish
messenger.
Dumb-fogged, ppl. adj. (common).—Confused.
Dumb-foozled, ppl. adj. (common).—Confounded;
puzzled.
1883. Hawley Smart, At Fault, I., x., 240. Considering you built the theatre, it struck me you weren't very good at finding your way about, you seemed regularly dumbfoozled.
Dumbfound, Dumfound, verb
(Also Dumbfounding, subs.,
Dumbfounded or Dumfoundered
[Scots], adj. [Old Slang, now
colloquial]).—To perplex; to confound.
1690. Dryden, Prologue to Prophetess. Then think on that bare bench my servant sat. I see him ogle still, and hear him chat. Selling facetious bargains, and propounding That witty recreation called DUMBFOUNDING.
1703. Ward, London Spy, pt. xvi., p. 379. This unexpected retort of the parsons, quite dumb-founded the Quaker.
1706. R. Estcourt, Fair Example, Act. III., Sc. i., p. 30. And if can but dumb-found my husband with a dream, I shall be able to make my word good.
1714. Spectator, No. 616. They grew a little mutinous for more liquor. They had like to have dumfounded the justice; but his clerk came in to his assistance.
1766. Mortimer, Falstaff's Wedding, I., ii. They let fly their jests so thick at me, and peppered me so plaguily with small wit, that I was dumfounded.
1855. A. Trollope, The Warden, ch. xi. At any other time how exquisitely valuable would have been that touch! but now he was distraught, dumb-founded, and unmanned.
