Chapter Dogmatic School to Dominicans of D by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Dolmen A name given in France to what we term "cromlechs." These ancient remains are often called by the rural population devils' tables, fairies' tables, and so on. (Celtic, stone tables.) It consists of a slab resting on unhewn upright stones. Plural dolmens (dol, a table; men, a stone).

"The Indian dolmens ... may be said to be identical with those of Western Europe." - J. Lubbock: Prehistoric Times, chap.v. p. 129.

Dolopatos A French metrical version of Sandabar's Parables, written by Hebers or Herbers or Prince Philippe, afterwards called Philippe le Hardi. Dolopatos is the Sicilian king, and Virgil the tutor of his son Lucinien. (See Seven Wise Masters.)

Dolorous Dettie (The). John Skelton wrote an elegy on Henry Percy, fourth Earl of Northumberland, who fell a victim to the avarice of Henry VII. (1489). This elegy he entitled thus: "Upon the Dolorous Dettie and Much Lamentable Chaunce of the Most Honorable Earl of Northumberland."

Dolphin Called a sea-goose (oie de mer) from the form of its snout, termed in French bec d'oie (a goose's beak). The dolphin is noted for its changes of colour when taken out of the water.

"Parting day
Dies like the dolphin, whom each pang imbues
With a new colour as it gasps away,
The last still loveliest."
Byron: Childe Harold, canto iv. stanza 29.

Dolphin (The), in mediæval art, symbolises social love.

Dom A title applied in the Middle Ages to the Pope, and at a somewhat later period to other Church dignitaries. It is now restricted to priests and choir monks among the Benedictines, and some few other monastic orders, as Dom Mabillon, Dom Calmet. The Spanish don, Portuguese dom, German von, and French de, are pretty well equivalent to it. (Latin, dominus.)

Dombey (Florence). A motherless child, hungering and thirsting to be loved, but regarded with frigid indifference by her father, who thinks that sons alone are worthy of his regard. (Dickens: Dombey and Son.)
   Mr. Dombey. A self-sufficient, purse-proud, frigid merchant, who feels satisfied there is but one Dombey in the world, and that is himself. (Dickens: Dombey and Son.)

Dom-Daniel The abode of evil spirits, gnomes, and enchanters, somewhere "under the roots of the ocean," but not far from Babylon. (Continuation of the Arabian Tales.)

"In the Domdaniel caverns
Under the roots of the ocean." Southey

Domesday Book consists of two volumes, one a large folio, and the other a quarto, the material of each being vellum. It was formerly kept in the Exchequer, under three different locks and keys, but is now kept in the Record Office. The date of the survey is 1086.
   Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Durham are not included in the survey, though parts of Westmoreland and Cumberland are taken.
   The value of all estates is given, firstly, as in the time of the Confessor; secondly, when bestowed by the Conqueror; and, thirdly, at the time of the survey. It is also called The King's Book, and The Winchester Roll because it was kept there. Printed in facsimile in 1783 and 1816.
   Stow says the book was so called because it was deposited in a part of Winchester Cathedral called Domus-dei, and that the word is a contraction of Domus-dei book; more likely it is connected with the previous surveys made by the Saxon kings, and called dom- bocs (libri judiciales), because every case of dispute was decided by an appeal to these registers.

"Then seyde Gamelyn to the Justice ...
Thou hast given domes that bin evil dight,
I will sitten in thy sete, and dressen him aright."
Chaucer: Canterbury Tales (The Cookes Tale).

Domestic England's domestic poet. William Cowper, author of The Task. (1731-1800.)

Domestic Poultry in Dryden's Hind and Panther, means the Roman Catholic clergy. So called from an establishment of priests in the private chapel at Whitehall. The nuns are termed "sister partlet with her hooded head."

Domiciliary Visit (A). An official visit to search the house.