Dropwort
(Drop"wort`) n. (Bot.) An Old World species of Spiræa (S. filipendula), with finely cut leaves.
Drosera
(||Dros"e*ra) n. [NL., fr. Gr. drosero`s dewy.] (Bot.) A genus of low perennial or biennial
plants, the leaves of which are beset with gland-tipped bristles. See Sundew. Gray.
Drosky
(Dros"ky) n.; pl. Droskies [Russ. drojki, dim. of drogi a kind of carriage, prop. pl. of droga
shaft or pole of a carriage.] A low, four-wheeled, open carriage, used in Russia, consisting of a kind of
long, narrow bench, on which the passengers ride as on a saddle, with their feet reaching nearly to the
ground. Other kinds of vehicles are now so called, esp. a kind of victoria drawn by one or two horses,
and used as a public carriage in German cities. [Written also droitzschka, and droschke.]
Drosometer
(Dro*som"e*ter) n. [Gr. dro`sos dew + -meter: cf. F. drosométre.] (Meteorol.) An instrument
for measuring the quantity of dew on the surface of a body in the open air. It consists of a balance,
having a plate at one end to receive the dew, and at the other a weight protected from the deposit of
dew.
Dross
(Dross) n. [AS. dros, fr. dreósan to fall. See Dreary.]
1. The scum or refuse matter which is thrown off, or falls from, metals in smelting the ore, or in the
process of melting; recrement.
2. Rust of metals. [R.] Addison.
3. Waste matter; any worthless matter separated from the better part; leavings; dregs; refuse.
All world's glory is but dross unclean.
Spenser.
At the devil's booth are all things sold,
Each ounce of dross coats its ounce of gold.
Lowell. Drossel
(Dros"sel) n. [Cf. Drazel.] A slut; a hussy; a drazel. [Obs.] Warner.
Drossless
(Dross"less), a. Free from dross. Stevens.
Drossy
(Dross"y) a. [Compar. Drossier ; superl. Drossiest ] Of, pertaining to, resembling, dross; full
of dross; impure; worthless. " Drossy gold." Dryden. "Drossy rhymes." Donne. — Dross"i*ness, n.
Drotchel
(Drotch"el) n. See Drossel. [Obs.]
Drough
(Drough) imp. of Draw. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Drought
(Drought) n. [OE. droght, drougth, dru&yoghð, AS. drugað, from drugian to dry. See Dry,
and cf. Drouth, which shows the original final sound.]
1. Dryness; want of rain or of water; especially, such dryness of the weather as affects the earth, and
prevents the growth of plants; aridity.
The drought of March hath pierced to the root.
Chaucer.
In a drought the thirsty creatures cry.
Dryden. 2. Thirst; want of drink. Johnson.
3. Scarcity; lack.
A drought of Christian writers caused a dearth of all history.
Fuller. Droughtiness
(Drought"i*ness) n. A state of dryness of the weather; want of rain.
