Chapter Doughtiness to Down of D by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

The domestic dove, including the varieties called fantails, tumblers, carrier pigeons, etc., was derived from the rock pigeon (Columba livia) of Europe and Asia; the turtledove of Europe, celebrated for its sweet, plaintive note, is C. turtur or Turtur vulgaris; the ringdove, the largest of European species, is C. palumbus; the Carolina dove, or Mourning dove, is Zenaidura macroura; the sea dove is the little auk See Turtledove, Ground dove, and Rock pigeon. The dove is a symbol of innocence, gentleness, and affection; also, in art and in the Scriptures, the typical symbol of the Holy Ghost.

2. A word of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle.

O my dove, . . . let me hear thy voice.

Cant. ii. 14.

Dove tick (Zoöl.), a mite (Argas reflexus) which infests doves and other birds. — Soiled dove, a prostitute. [Slang]

Dovecot
(Dove"cot` Dove"cote`) n. A small house or box, raised to a considerable height above the ground, and having compartments, in which domestic pigeons breed; a dove house.

Like an eagle in a dovecote, I
Fluttered your Volscians in Corioli.

Shak.

Dove-eyed
(Dove"-eyed`) a. Having eyes like a dove; meekeyed; as, dove-eyed Peace.

Dovekie
(Dove"kie) n. (Zoöl.) A guillemot of the arctic regions. Also applied to the little auk or sea dove. See under Dove.

Dovelet
(Dove"let) n. A young or small dove. Booth.

Dovelike
(Dove"like`) a. Mild as a dove; gentle; pure and lovable. Longfellow.

Dove plant
(Dove" plant`) (Bot.) A Central American orchid having a flower stem five or six feet high, with numerous globose white fragrant flowers. The column in the center of the flower resembles a dove; — called also Holy Spirit plant.

Dover's Powder
(Do"ver's Pow"der) [From Dr. Dover, an English physician.] (Med.) A powder of ipecac and opium, compounded, in the United States, with sugar of milk, but in England (as formerly in the United States) with sulphate of potash, and in France (as in Dr. Dover's original prescription) with nitrate and sulphate of potash and licorice. It is an anodyne diaphoretic.

Dove's-foot
(Dove's"-foot`) n. (Bot.) (a) A small annual species of Geranium, native in England; — so called from the shape of the leaf. (b) The columbine. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Doveship
(Dove"ship) n. The possession of dovelike qualities, harmlessness and innocence. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Dovetail
(Dove"tail`) n. (Carp.) A flaring tenon, or tongue and a mortise, or socket, into which it fits tightly, making an interlocking joint between two pieces which resists pulling a part in all directions except one.

Dovetail molding (Arch.), a molding of any convex section arranged in a sort of zigzag, like a series of dovetails. — Dovetail saw (Carp.), a saw used in dovetailing.

Dovetail
(Dove"tail`), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dovetailed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Dovetailing.]

1. (Carp.) (a) To cut to a dovetail. (b) To join by means of dovetails.