Chapter Dowgate Ward to Dragon of D by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Dowgate Ward to Dragon

Dowgate Ward (London). Some derive it from Dour (water), it being next to the Thames, at the foot of the hill; others say it is "Down-gate," the gate of the down, dune, or hill, as Brighton Downs (hills), South- downs, etc.

Dowlas (Mr.). A generic name for a linendraper, who sells dowlas, a coarse linen cloth, so called from Doulens in Picardy, where it is manufactured.

Dowling (Captain). A character in Crabbe's Borough; a great drunkard, who died in his cups.

" `Come, fill my glass.' He took it and he went" (i.e. died). Letter xvi.

Down He is quite down in the mouth. Out of spirits; disheartened. When persons are very sad and low-spirited, the corners of the mouth are drawn down. "Down in the jib" is a nautical phrase of the same meaning.

Down in the Dumps Low-spirited.

Down on Him (To be). I was down on him in a minute. I pounced on him directly; I detected his trick immediately. Also to treat harshly. The allusion is to birds of prey.

Down on his Luck In ill-luck.

" `I guess, stranger, you'll find me an ex-president down on his luck.' " - A. Egmont Hake: Paris Originals (Professors of Languages).

Down to the Ground That suits me down to the ground. Entirely.

Down - hearted Without spirit; the heart prostrated.

Down Town I am going down town, i.e. to the business part of the town.
   Down the country properly means down the slope of the land, or as the rivers run.
    We say "I am going up to town" when we mean out of the country into the chief city.

Down-trod Despised, as one trodden under foot.

"I will lift
The down-trod Mortimer as high i' the air
As this ungrateful king."
Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV., i. 3.

Downfall (A). A heavy shower of rain; a loss of social position.

Downing Professor The Professor of the Laws of England in the University of Cambridge. This chair was founded in 1800 by Sir George Downing, Bart.

Downing Street (London). Named after Sir George Downing, who died 1684. He was elected M.P. for Morpeth in 1661.

Downpour (A). A very heavy shower of rain. "A regular downpour."

Downright Thoroughly, as "downright honest," "downright mad"; outspoken; utter, as a "downright shame." The word means from top to bottom, throughout.

Downright Dunstable Very blunt, plain speaking. The present town of Dunstable is at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, in Bedfordshire. There was somewhere about the same site a Roman station called Magionium or Magintum, utterly destroyed by the Danes, and afterwards overgrown by trees. Henry I. founded the present town, and built there a palace and priory.

"If this is not plain speaking, there is no such place as downright Dunstable." - Sir W. Scott:Redgauntlet, chap. xvii.

Downstairs Stairs leading from a higher to a lower floor; on the lowest floor, as "I am downstairs."

Downy (The). Bed. Gone to the downy, gone to bed. Bed being stuffed with down.