Chapter Dodington to Dog at Kew of D by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Dodington to Dog at Kew

Dodington, whom Thomson invokes in his Summer, is George Bubb Dodington, lord Melcomb-Regis, a British statesman. Churchill and Pope ridiculed him, while Hogarth introduced him in his picture called the “Orders of Periwigs.”

Dodipoll (Dr.), any man of weak intellect, a dotard. Hence the proverb, Wise as Dr. Dodipoll, meaning “not wise at all.”

Dodman or Doddiman. A snail is so called in Norfolk and Suffolk.

“I’m a regular dodman, I am,” said Mr. Peggotty—by which he meant “snail.”—Dickens: David Copperfield, vii. (1849).

Doddiman, doddiman, put out your horns,
For here comes a thief to steal your corns.
   —Common Popular Rhyme in Norfolk.

Dodon or rather Dodoens (Rembert), a Dutch botanist (1517–1585), physician to the emperors Maximilian II. and Randolph II. His works are Frumentorum et Leguminum Historia; Florum Historia; Purgantium Radicum et Herbarum Historia; Stirpium Historia; all included under the general title of “The History of Plants.”

Of these most helpful herbs yet tell we but a few,
To those unnumbered sorts, of simples here that grew,
Which justly to set down e’en Dodon short doth fall.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, xiii. (1613).

Dodona (in Epiros), famous for the most ancient oracle in Greece. The responses were made by an old woman called a pigeon, because the Greek word peliæ means either “old women” or “pigeons.” According to fable, Zeus gave his daughter Thebê two black pigeons endowed with the gift of human speech: one flew into Libya, and gave the responses in the temple of Ammon; the other into Epiros, where it gave the responses in Dodona.

N.B.—We are told that the priestess of Dodona derived her answers from the cooing of the sacred doves, the rustling of the sacred trees, the bubbling of the sacred fountain, and the tinkling of bells or pieces of metal suspended among the branches of the trees.

And Dodona’s oak swang lonely
Henceforth to the tempest only.
   —Mrs. Browning: Dead Pan, 17.

Dods (Meg), landlady of the Clachan, or Mowbery Arms inn at St. Ronan’s Old Town. The inn was once the manse, and Meg Dods reigned there despotically, but her wines were good and her cuisine excellent. This is one of the best low comic characters in the whole range of fiction.

She had hair of a brindled colour, betwixt black and grey, which was apt to escape in elf-locks from under her mutch when she was thrown into violent agitation; long skinny hands terminated by stout talons, grey eyes, thin lips, a robust person, a broad though fat chest, capital wind, and a voice that could match a choir of fishwomen.—Sir W. Scott: St. Ronan’s Well, i. (time, George III.).

N.B.—So good a housewife was this eccentric landlady, that a cookery-book has been published bearing her name; the authoress is Mrs. Johnstone, a Scotch-woman.

Dodson, a young farmer, called upon by Death on his wedding-day. Death told him he must quit his Susan, and go with him. “With you!” the hapless husband cried; “young as I am, and unprepared?” Death then told him he would not disturb him yet, but would call again after giving him three warnings. When he was 80 years of age, Death called again. “So soon returned?” old Dodson cried. “You know you promised me three warnings.” Death then told him that as he was “lame and deaf and blind,” he had received his three warnings.—Mrs. Thrale [Piozzi]: The Three Warnings.