| 释义 |
dickern.1 Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin decuria. Etymology: Ultimately < classical Latin decuria a company or parcel of ten (see decury n. and see note below), probably via a (possibly early) borrowing of this word into West Germanic: compare Middle Low German dēker, dāker unit of ten (especially hides, skins, or other leather items), Middle High German decher, techer unit of ten hides or skins (German Decher), and also ( < Middle Low German) Old Icelandic dekr, Old Swedish deker, dikur, dikker (Swedish däcker), early modern Danish deger, degger (Danish deger). It is uncertain whether the Middle English and later word shows the reflex of an unattested Old English *dicor, cognate with the words in Middle Low German and Middle High German, or whether it reflects a later borrowing, either from another Germanic language or via post-classical Latin and Anglo-Norman. In sources from England, the word is recorded earliest (by a considerable margin) in Latin: compare post-classical Latin dacra, dacrum, dacris (from 12th cent. in British sources; 11th cent. in Domesday Book as dicra) set of ten (generally hides, but in British sources sometimes also applied to other commodities, as iron rods (11th cent. in Domesday Book), pairs of horseshoes or gloves (from 12th cent.), or knives (15th cent.)); forms of the post-classical Latin word found in continental sources include also decora, decara, dicara, dacora (13th cent.). Compare also Anglo-Norman dacre, daker, diker, dikere set of ten (hides, etc.), which is attested from the mid 14th cent. in monolingual Anglo-Norman sources.Possible context for early borrowing of the Latin word into Germanic. Classical Latin decuria has been used from ancient times in the reckoning of skins or hides: a letter of the Roman Emperor Valerian ( a.d. 253–260) preserved by Trebellius Pollio, directs Zozimion, procurator of Syria, to furnish to Claudius, among other supplies, pellium tentoriarum decurias triginta, i.e. 30 dickers of skins for tents. The Latin word was probably borrowed into the Germanic languages very early; contexts for the borrowing in antiquity would be tributes of skins which Germanic tribes had to pay to the Romans (compare Tacitus Annals 4. 72 with reference to the Frisii), as well the fact that skins formed a leading item in the frontier trade between the Romans and their northern neighbours. However, there is no definite linguistic or historical indication that classical Latin decuria was borrowed into Germanic as early as this. Suggested occurrence of the English word in a place name. For a suggestion that this word is shown by the name of The Dicker in Sussex (recorded from 13th cent. as Dikere, Dikera, Diker, Atte Dykere, etc.) see A. Mawer & F. M. Stenton Place-names Sussex (1930) II. 439–40. the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > ten > [noun] α. c1243 in H. Hall (1930) II. p. lxxxvi (MED) In predicta navi fuerunt vj lesta correi, ij dakeres minus. 1400 in C. Frost (1827) App. 19 Pro iiij tymbre wark', iiij beverfell', iiij martynfell', iiij dacre skapefell, j ferthekyn butiri. 1548 in J. Raine (1835) I. 130 ij daker off lether off daker wayre iijl. vjs. viijd. 1609 J. Skene tr. Stat. of Gild 147 In halfe ane daker of hydes. 1732 in W. Cramond (1891) I. 206 For each dakker of leather freemen shall pay 3s. 4d. 1835 P. Kelly (new ed.) II. Index Dicker, or dacre of leather, 10 hides; of necklaces, 10 bundles, each bundle ten necklaces. 1942 63 51 A ‘dicker’ or ‘daker’ was the twentieth part of a last of hides, and contained ten hides. the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [noun] > a large number or multitude a1586 Sir P. Sidney (1593) iii. sig. Kk3v Behold, sayd Pas, a whole dicker of wit. 1596 T. Nashe Ep. Ded. sig. A2v Such a huge dicker of Dickes in a heape altogether. ?1602 (MS Bodl. Rawl. poet. 212) (1893) 686 On my love kisses I heape a dicker. 1676 A. Marvell sig. F But if the Dean foresee that 'tis a very vendible Book, he..sends up for a whole Dicker of 'em to retaile. 1722 ii. 63 Heavens bless your Endeavours, and sen you a whole Dicker of Boys and Girls, that you may live to be a Great Grandmother. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022). dickern.2 Originally and chiefly U.S. Now historical and rare. society > trade and finance > bargaining > [noun] > a bargain or deal 1818 T. G. Fessenden 171 It may..not be amiss to give a list of some provincial words and phrases, which ought to be avoided... Dicker for deal, driv for drove, [etc.] 1823 J. F. Cooper I. xiv. 204 You have sold your betterments. Was it cash or dicker? 1862 Nov. 564/1 I take 'em ter Orleans, and auction 'em off. Ther's no fuss and dicker 'bout thet, ye knows. 1880 May 907/1 An old watch and shot-gun..that he had taken as ‘dicker’ on accounts. 1882 July 454 Like all parties in minority, the Jeffersonians were ready to make a dicker with the Adams faction. 1940 P. G. Wodehouse 57 It was his intention to..make a dicker with it [sc. a dog] by means of the slab [of cheese] which he had just purchased. 1993 R. Compton xxvii. 303 That was a good dicker... That extra fifty cents a head will cover us takin' the herd an extra hundred miles. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022). dickerv.Etymology: Probably < dicker n.1, probably originally with reference to barter trade on the western frontier in North America. Chiefly North American (originally U.S.). 1. society > trade and finance > bargaining > bargain [verb (intransitive)] society > trade and finance > barter > [verb (intransitive)] 1797 R. Tyler I. v. 54 Our minister.., coming to my father's, to dicker, as they stiled it, about a swop of cattle, and not finding my father sharp at the bargain, he changed the discourse upon me. 1824 15 June 4/5 (advt.) The subscriber has for sale the following property which he wishes to dicker for. 1891 G. Smith viii. 185 Government, in the persons of the Parliamentary heads of departments, is on the stump, or dickering for votes. 1958 Mar. 102/2 Opel prices are hard. You can dicker on a Chevy, De Soto, or..a Buick. But not on an Opel. Reason: They're scarce. 1967 H. Hood iii. i. 165 He had spent Saturday dickering with an exurbanite banker for financing on a projected film. 2004 6 Dec. 45/3 Last weekend weary negotiators were still dickering over a compromise. society > trade and finance > barter > [verb (transitive)] 1834 C. A. Davis 47 ‘Here,’ say I, ‘Squire Biddle, I have a small trifle I should like to dicker with you.’ 1864 G. A. Sala in 7 July The required needle was dickered for the egg, and the Yankee was going away. 1903 A. D. McFaul viii. 69 I'm ready to dicker any horse I've got, at any time. 1920 26 Apr. Her course led her to a Pell Street dive where she dickered the sale of a holy emerald. 1959 15 Apr. b8/2 Roosevelt..dickered the railroad down to $2 million for a property it took its original backers..more than $11 million to build. 2000 A. Barkow i. 44 He dickered a pro rate for hotel rooms and rail fares. the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > be irresolute or vacillate [verb (intransitive)] 1879 5 Sept. There was a small temple, evidently given to pious use still, for there was a keeper who dickered about letting us in. 1933 22 Dec. 6/2 Harold bought the Sudanese head-piece for me..and gloried a great deal in it because the French consul's wife wanted it, but someone had dickered too long before buying it for her. 1963 B. Pearson ix. 159 Henderson, though he dickered, usually came round to the majority opinion. 2009 (Nexis) 17 Jan. (Gardening section) 18 Spring dickered around a bit last year and, while seeds like the broad beans popped through readily enough, they sat between 15 centimetres and 20cm for ages, as if unclear about what to do next. 1888 4 Oct. 6/1 It was over thirty years ago that Mr. Campbell first began to dicker with balloons and now he thinks he sees the fruit of long years of toil and hope in the patent air-ship which he claims is navigable. 1947 10 Oct. 3/1 Rather than dicker about with odd hours, many firms..would as lief turn out on Sundays. 1993 (Electronic ed.) 18 Sept. b18 They reckon the company needs to slash costs.., and not just dicker around with the existing system. 2011 (Nexis) 5 June 21 At the very beginning of the 20th century, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce had separately dickered around with electrically powered motors. Derivatives society > trade and finance > trader > [noun] > bargainer or haggler 1872 25 July Political gamblers, dickerers and traitors—men who say that the heart of the people is utterly debauched, based upon the proposition that the people are like so many cattle, to be bought and sold. 1891 2 Apr. Bargains that would do credit to London East End dickerers. 1987 (Nexis) 31 July b1 Gillick, Jays' vice-president and chief dickerer, was in his office yesterday at Exhibition Stadium. 2000 31 Oct. c11 So here came the sifters, the touchers, the feelers and the dickerers—before any of the yard sale crew had even glugged down a first cup of coffee. society > trade and finance > bargaining > [noun] 1802 ii. 268 Dickering signifies all that honest conversation, preliminary to the sale of a horse, where the parties very laudably strive in a sort of gladiatorial combat of lying, cheating, and overreaching. 1942 Feb. 29/2 After a lot of dickering..the broker's salesman finally indicated to me that..the boat could be had for $2,500. 2018 (Nexis) 23 Jan. a8 After some dickering, the ministry knocked several thousand dollars off the tax bill, but basically upheld the original decision. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < |
