daggern.1
/ˈdaɡə/, U.S. /ˈdæɡər/ 1. † b. ale dagger, alehouse dagger: see ale-dagger n. at ale n. Compounds 2. dagger of lath: the weapon worn by the ‘Vice’ in the old ‘Moralities’. Obsolete.
a. A short stout edged and pointed weapon, like a small sword, used for thrusting and stabbing.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > side arms > knife or dagger > [noun]
saxa800
knifec1175
pricka1350
awla1387
daggerc1386
puncheonc1425
custil1447
punch?1480
murdererc1500
pointela1522
poniard1533
pounce1545
poignado?a1549
slaughmess1548
dirk1557
pistolesea1566
parazone1623
coutel1647
chiv1673
couteau1677
cuttoe1678
sticker1772
cultel1824
skewer1838
snicker1847
shiv1915
chib1929
a1375 Fragm. Vetusta xxiv, in Sc. Acts (1844) I. 388 Habeat equum, hauberkion, capilium de ferro, ensem, et cultellum qui dicitur dagare.
a1375 Fragm. Vetusta xxiv, in Sc. Acts (1844) I. 388 Habeat archum et sagittas, et daggarium et cultellum.]
c1386 G. Chaucer Pard. T. 502 And with thy daggere [so 4 MSS., 3 dagger] looke thou do the same.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 113 He bar..on that oother syde a gay daggere [rhyme spere].
1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 111 Daggare, to steke wythe men, pugio.
?1462 T. Playter in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 288 Þe same dager he slew hym wyth.
1535 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 127 Wt my dagard.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iii. ii. 153 I feare I wrong the Honourable men, Whose Daggers haue stabb'd Cæsar. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. i. 33 Is this a Dagger, which I see before me? View more context for this quotation
1719 E. Young Busiris iv. 46 Loose thy Hold, Or I will plant my Dagger in thy Breast.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. iii. 126 ‘You have a dagger in your hand,’ said he.
ΚΠ
1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. G4 All you that will not..weare ale-house daggers at your backes.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. v. 137 A kings sonne, if I do not beat thee out of thy kingdom with a dagger of lath..ile neuer weare haire on my face more. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) iv. ii. 129 Like to the old vice..Who with dagger of lath, in his rage and his wrath, cries ah ha, to the diuell. View more context for this quotation
2. figurative. daggers' drawing: the commencement of open hostilities. at (or to) daggers' drawing, now at daggers drawn: on (or to) the point of fighting or quarrelling; in a state of open hostility. Also (rarely) at daggers' points.at daggers drawn is found in 1668, but becomes usual only in 19th cent.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > at variance [phrase]
in (also into, on, a) piecesa1275
in strife1398
at traversc1448
at issue1474
at a strife1488
at variancea1535
at square1545
at (a) jar1552
at (or to) daggers' drawing1556
at (a) mutiny1567
in (a) mutiny1567
at wrig-wrag1599
at daggers drawn1668
at (or at the, on the) outs1824
loggerhead1831
at daggers' points1857
at swords' points1890
the mind > emotion > hatred > enemy > [adverb]
at (or to) daggers' drawing1556
at wrig-wrag1599
at daggers drawn1668
at daggers' points1857
at swords' points1890
1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero Thre Bks. Duties i. f. 11v They..amonge themselues ar wonte to be at daggers drawing.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Hippocrates in Panoplie Epist. 267 That countrie was at defiaunce and daggers drawing with the lande of Græcia.
1652 J. Wadsworth tr. P. de Sandoval Civil Wars Spain 19 The Grandees of the Court were com almost to daggers drawing.
1668 R. L'Estrange tr. F. G. de Quevedo y Villegas Visions (1708) 214 Upon this Point, were they at Daggers-drawn with the Emperor.
1735 J. Swift Humble Addr. to Parl. in Wks. IV. 232 A Quarrel in a Tavern, where all were at Daggers-drawing.
1800 M. Edgeworth Castle Rackrent 52 Three ladies..talked of for his second wife, all at daggers drawing with each other.
1826 M. M. Sherwood Lady of Manor (ed. 2) IV. xviii. 35 You will be at daggers-drawing..with every order..of persons in the town.
1837 Lady L. Stuart Introd. Anecdotes in Lett. & Wks. Lady M. W. Montagu's I. 77 This lady inherited such a share of her grandmother's imperial spirit, as to..insure daggers drawing as soon as it should find..opportunity to display itself.
1857 C. Dickens Little Dorrit ii. xxx. 582 Five minutes hence we may be at daggers' points.
1860 R. B. Brough Marston Lynch xxiv. 257 Was Marston still at daggers drawn with his rich uncle?
3. figurative.
a. Something that wounds or afflicts grievously.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > a harmful thing or person > thing
thornc1230
plaguea1382
foea1393
evila1400
flaw1481
detriment?1504
tooth1546
fang1555
decay1563
bane1577
dagger1600
scourge1603
cursea1616
blighter1821
bacillus1883
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 102 Thou stickst a dagger in me, I shall neuer see my gold againe. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. iii. 139 Where we are, there's Daggers in mens Smiles. View more context for this quotation
1704 R. Steele Lying Lover ii. 28 This was to me Daggers.
1800 E. Hervey Mourtray Family III. 240 Every word he spoke was a dagger to her heart.
b. to speak or look daggers: to speak so as to wound, to speak or look fiercely, savagely, or angrily.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > [verb (transitive)] > abuse, scold, or wrangle
chidec1230
revilea1393
to call (rarely to speak) (all) to naught1542
vituperate1542
abuse1592
to speak or look daggers1603
outrage1608
cuss1831
slangwhang1880
strafe1915
slag1958
name-call1960
the mind > emotion > anger > manifestation of anger > show anger [verb (intransitive)] > speak angrily
spitc1386
ragea1400
blowc1475
blustera1494
storm?1553
pelt1594
tear1602
fare1603
to speak or look daggers1603
to blow hot coalsc1626
rant1647
scream1775
to pop off1914
to carry on1947
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (intransitive)] > scold
scold1377
chide1393
channerc1480
ratea1529
chowre1567
flite1568
to scold it outa1592
to speak or look daggers1603
snub1694
to read the Riot Act1784
row1843
rouse1896
roust1901
to bust (a person's) balls1946
to bust on1961
the mind > emotion > anger > manifestation of anger > show anger [verb (intransitive)] > look angry
starea1275
grima1400
to look black1608
to speak or look daggers1834
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. ii. 385 I will speake daggers,..To doe her wrong my soule shall ne're consent.
1622 T. Dekker & P. Massinger Virgin Martir iv. sig. H3v And doe thine eyes shoote daggers at that man That brings thee health?
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple III. xiv. 189 Lord Privilege..looked daggers at me.
1839 W. H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard I. ii. iv. 199 A glance..which was meant to speak daggers.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > boasting or boastfulness > blustering or bravado > [noun] > person
jettera1400
flirdom?a1500
facerc1500
termagant1508
rutterkina1529
bellomy1535
bystour1535
roister1549
swash1549
rush-buckler1551
roisterkin1553
swashbuckler1560
dash-buckler1567
swinge-buckler?1577
whiffler1581
huff-snuff1582
swish-swash1582
fixnet1583
swag1588
swasher?1589
kill-cow1590
roister-doister1592
dagger1597
flaunting Fabian1598
tisty-tosty1598
huff-cap1600
swaggerer1600
burgullian1601
huff-muff1602
tear-cat1606
blusterer1609
wag-feather1611
wind-cutter1611
bilbo-lorda1625
tearer1633
cacafuegoa1640
bravado1643
Hector1655
scaramouch1662
swashado1663
huffer1664
bluster-mastera1670
Drawcansir1672
bully huff1673
huff1674
belswagger1680
valienton1681
blunderbuss1685
Draw can bully1698
bouncer1764
Bobadil1771
bounce1819
pistol1828
sacripant1829
hufty1847
bucko1883
1597 1st Pt. Returne fr. Parnassus i. i. 289 Soothe upp this..ingrosser of cringers..this great hilted dagger!
1597 1st Pt. Returne fr. Parnassus iv. i. 1236 This bracchidochio..this meere rapier and dagger.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > side arms > knife or dagger > [noun] > bayonet
dagger1688
bayonet1704
fixed bayonet1802
ring bayonet1841
sword-bayonet1844
winkle-pin1924
spike1928
1688 J. S. Mil. Discipl. 27 Draw your Daggers. Fix them in your Musquet.
6.
Thesaurus »
a. The upright piece of wood nailed to the bars in the middle of a rail or gate.
b. Nautical. (See quot. 1850.)
ΚΠ
a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 17 A dagger, which goeth straight downe the middle of the spelles and is nayled to each spell.
1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. 113 Dagger, a piece of timber that faces on to the poppets of the bilge-ways, and crosses them diagonally, to keep them together. The plank that secures the heads of the poppets is called the dagger-plank. The word ‘dagger’ seems to apply to anything that stands diagonally or aslant.
c. = dogshore n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > [noun] > slip on which ships built or repaired > framework on which vessel rests > timbers supporting ship when launching
ways1581
bilge-ways1769
dogshore1780
driver1781
slice1791
puppet1792
stopping up1805
dog1831
dagger1838
bulge-ways1850
poppet1850
trigger1867
1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 384/2 At 11 o'clock the dagger was knocked down, and the beautiful vessel..glided majestically into the river.
1896 Strand Mag. 12 325 Being simultaneously released..these weights instantly fall, and..bring down the daggers, thus removing all obstacle to the passage of the ship down the ways.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > male > [noun] > body and parts > antler > straight and unbranched
dagger1600
pricket1775
upright1856
dag1859
spike-horn1869
switch-horn1880
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique vii. xxiv. 844 The seconde yeere they haue their first hornes, which are called daggers.
8. Printing. A mark resembling a dagger (†), used for marginal references, etc.: also called obelisk. double dagger n. a mark having each end like the hilt of a dagger (‡), similarly used.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printers' symbols and directions > [noun] > dagger or double dagger
obelisk1583
dagger1706
diesis1706
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Dagger..a..Mark in Printing..(†).
1770 Hist. Printing 259 The Obelisk, or long Cross, erroneously called the single Dagger..The Double Dagger.
1862 D. T. Ansted & R. G. Latham Channel Islands ii. viii. 166 Those that are certainly not indigenous being indicated by a little dagger (†) placed before the name.
9. A collector's name of moths of the genus Acronycta having a black dagger-like or ψ-like mark near the anal angle of the fore wings.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > family Noctuidae > member of genus Acronycta
dagger1832
1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 79 The Dark Dagger appears in June.
1862 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 249 I do not know why this insect [Acronycta tridens] is called the ‘Dark Dagger’: it is no darker than the ‘Gray Dagger’ [A. Psi].
10. plural. Applied locally to various plants with long sword-like leaves, as Sword-grass ( Poa aquatica), Water-flag ( Iris pseudacorus), etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > phalaris grasses
grass corn1548
phalaris1548
Canary seed1578
Canary grass1597
chameleon grass1597
lady's laces1597
painted grass1597
sword-grass1598
silver grass1600
Canary1723
reed canary grass1762
ribbon grass1786
gardener's garters1820
dagger-grass1834
daggers1847
bride's laces1854
canary reed1884
1847–78 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words Daggers, sword-grass. Somerset.
1882 Devonshire Plant-names (E.D.S.) Daggers, Iris Pseudacorus, and I. fœtidissima. The name evidently has reference to the sword-like flags or leaves.
ΚΠ
1576 G. Gascoigne Delicate Diet But we must have March beere, dooble dooble beere, dagger-ale, Rhenish.
1602 T. Dekker Satiro-mastix sig. D Ile not take thy word for a dagger Pye.
1612 B. Jonson Alchemist i. i. sig. B3v My Lawyers Clearke, I lighted on, last night, In Hol'bourne, at the Dagger . View more context for this quotation
1612 B. Jonson Alchemist v. iv. sig. M Her Grace would ha' you eate no more Wool-sack pies, Nor Dagger Frumenty.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
dagger-blade n.
ΚΠ
1562 Act 5 Eliz. c. 7 §3 Dagger-blades, Handles, Scabbards.
dagger-hilt n.
ΚΠ
1682 N. Grew Disc. Essent. & Marine Salts iv. ii. §18 in Anat. Plants 266 Crystals..figur'd crossways like a Dagger-Hilt.
dagger-stab n.
ΚΠ
1892 S. Baring-Gould In Roar of Sea II. xxix. 141 Miss Travisa..cast a glance at her niece like a dagger-stab.
dagger-work n.
ΚΠ
1890 ‘M. Field’ Tragic Mary i. i. 7 I never saw such dagger-work..As that which pierced him. Six and fifty wounds!
b.
dagger-like adj.
dagger-proof adj.
C2. † dagger-ale n. Obsolete (see 11). † dagger-cheap adj. Obsolete very cheap, ‘dirt-cheap’. † dagger-frumenty n. Obsolete (see 11). † dagger-man n. Obsolete a man who carries a dagger, a bravo. † dagger-money n. Obsolete ‘a sum of money formerly paid to the justices of assize on the northern circuit to provide arms against marauders’ (Ogilvie). † dagger-pie n. Obsolete (see 11).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > low price or rate > [adjective] > cheap > extremely cheap
dog cheap1526
dagger-cheap1592
as cheap as dirta1817
dirt-cheap1821
throwaway1887
1592 L. Andrewes Serm.: Christ's Temptation (1843) V. vi. 546 We set our wares at a very easy price, he [the devil] may buy us even dagger-cheap, as we say.
dagger-grass n. ? = sword-grass (see 10).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > phalaris grasses
grass corn1548
phalaris1548
Canary seed1578
Canary grass1597
chameleon grass1597
lady's laces1597
painted grass1597
sword-grass1598
silver grass1600
Canary1723
reed canary grass1762
ribbon grass1786
gardener's garters1820
dagger-grass1834
daggers1847
bride's laces1854
canary reed1884
1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. 262 These tracks were sometimes lost in high dagger-grass.
dagger-knee n. Nautical see quot.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > [noun] > timbers of hull > angular supporting timber
knee1337
hook1611
standardc1620
carling-knee1626
standing knee1726
dagger-knee1850
hanging knee1850
beam-knee1869
1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. 114 Any straight hanging knees, not perpendicular to the side of the beam, are in general termed dagger-knees.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > man-killer or homicide > [noun] > murderer or assassin
banea800
murthereOE
quellerOE
manslaughta1225
manquellec1275
murderer1340
Cainc1380
drepera1400
sicariana1400
murder mana1450
interfector1450
murdrier1481
murdresara1500
assassin1531
cut-throat1535
cutter1569
baner1605
brave1606
bravo1609
dagger-mana1616
assassinate1621
assassinator1651
sword-taker1660
assassinant1662
banesman1870
hatchet man1876
murdermonger1900
hit-man1970
mechanic1972
contract killer1980
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. iii. 14 Mr Starue-Lackey the Rapier and dagger man.
dagger-piece n. Nautical = sense 6b.
ΚΠ
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Dagger-piece, or Dagger-wood, a timber or plank that faces on to the poppets of the bilge~ways, and crosses them diagonally, to keep them together.
Categories »
dagger-plank n. Nautical see 1850 at sense 6b.
dagger-plant n. a plant of the genus Yucca, also called Adam's needle, having sharp-edged and pointed leaves.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > cultivated or ornamental trees and shrubs > [noun] > yuccas
yucca1664
Adam's Needle1730
bear grass1750
Spanish Bayonet1823
yucca-tree1828
Spanish dagger1859
dagger-plant1866
dasylirion1880
sotol1881
soap-weed1884
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. Dagger plant, a name for Yucca.
1885 A. Brassey In Trades 220 The road was bordered by hedges of cactus and dagger-plants.
dagger-wood n. Nautical = sense 6b.
ΚΠ
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Dagger-piece, or Dagger-wood, a timber or plank that faces on to the poppets of the bilge~ways, and crosses them diagonally, to keep them together.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
daggern.2
/ˈdaɡə/, U.S. /ˈdæɡər/, Australian English /ˈdæɡə/, New Zealand English /ˈdɛɡə/ Australian and New Zealand.
a. plural. (See quot. 1945.)
ΚΠ
1878 ‘Ironbark’ Southerly Busters 179 I'm able for to shear 'em clean, And level as a die; But I prefers to ‘tommy-hawk’, And make the ‘daggers’ fly.
1945 S. J. Baker Austral. Lang. iii. 64 Handshears are known as daggers, jingling johnnies.
b. (See quot. 1965.)
ΚΠ
1889 G. P. Williams & W. P. Reeves Colonial Couplets 28 He could do anything, he swore..Would take what came,..Be ‘brander’, ‘rouse-about’, or ‘dagger’.
1952 Arena XXXI. 4 The dogs, the roussies and penners-up and daggers.
1965 J. S. Gunn Terminol. Shearing Industry i. 21 In earlier times, but not often to-day, shedhands known as ‘daggers’ and ‘dag boys’ were given the job of ‘dag picking’ or recovering wool from the dags.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
daggerv.
1. transitive. To stab with a dagger.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by stabbing or cutting
snithec725
ofstingeOE
stickOE
to sting to death13..
to put (do) to the sword1338
throata1382
to strike dead, to (the) deathc1390
hewc1400
stab1530
to stab (a person) in1530
poniard1593
stiletto1613
jugulate1623
kris1625
dagger1694
pike1787
to cut down1821
sword1863
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > injure [verb (transitive)] > wound > wound with sharp weapon
woundc760
stickOE
snese?c1225
stokea1300
steekc1300
bearc1330
stangc1340
chop1362
broach1377
foinc1380
strikec1390
borea1400
dag?a1400
gorea1400
gridea1400
staira1400
through-girdc1405
thrustc1410
runc1425
to run throughc1425
traversec1425
spitc1430
through-seeka1500
stitch1527
falchiona1529
stab1530
to stab (a person) in1530
stob?1530
rutc1540
rove?c1550
push1551
foxa1566
stoga1572
poniard1593
dirk1599
bestab1600
poach1602
stiletto1613
stocka1640
inrun1653
stoccado1677
dagger1694
whip1699
bayonetc1700
tomahawk1711
stug1722
chiv1725
kittle1786
sabre1790
halberd1825
jab1825
skewer1837
sword1863
poke1866
spear1869
whinger1892
pig-stick1902
shiv1926
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > use of knives > stab with knife [verb (transitive)]
poniard1593
dirk1599
dagger1694
shank1949
1694 R. Franck Northern Mem. 30 When Democrasians dagger the Crown.
1806 Naval Chron. 15 453 Rackstraw was daggered, and died immediately.
18.. A. Sutherland Brigand of Loire in Tales of Pilgrim He was in no danger of being daggered.
2. Printing. To mark with a dagger (†).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printers' symbols and directions > [verb (transitive)] > mark with dagger
dagger1875
1875 F. J. Furnivall in F. Thynne Animaduersions p. xxxvii (note) The dishes chang'd in the list are daggerd.
Derivatives
ˈdaggering n. and adj. (a) n. stabbing with a dagger; (b) adj. stabbing, fatal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > cause of death > [adjective]
deadlyc893
deathlyOE
deathfula1250
mortalc1390
capitalc1426
exitialc1475
fey1488
mortuala1500
perishinga1500
fatal?1518
ferial1528
mortiferousa1538
deadc1540
exitious?1545
deathlike1548
mortifying1555
starvingc1600
lethal1604
speedingc1604
vital1612
irrecoverable1614
feral1621
lethiferous1651
mortific1651
mortifical1657
daggering1694
exitiose1727
fateful1764
kill-devil1831
unsurvivable1839
lethiferal1848
tachythanatous1860
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > use of knives > [noun]
snick or snee1670
snicking and sneeing1674
snickersneeing1698
daggering1830
bowieism1844
knife-work1845
knife-playing1855
bowie-kniving1861
1694 W. Westmacott Θεολοβοτονολογια 214 Every Month produces sad and fatal Instances of its [sc. brandy's] daggering force.
1830 Blackwood's Mag. 27 55 The screaming and daggering and death-rattling.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
<
n.1c1386
n.21878
v.1694- wough-nail
- wough-rift
- woughnail
- woughrift
- wouhleche
- wouhlechung
- woul
- would
- would a duck swim?
- would be none the worse for
- would be would not be the worse for
- would give one's eyes
- would give one's eyeteeth
- would give one's left eye
- would give one's right eye
- would god
- would i yea or no
- would not come amiss
- would not go amiss
- would rather
- would say
- would screw up a two-car funeral
- would screw up a twocar funeral
- would seem
- would the gods