Damascus Steel
A steel originally made in Damascus. It is composed of layers of very pure iron and steel, worked with great care by heating and extraordinary forging, such as twisting, doubling, etc. See STEEL.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Single-source entries: D (5)
Each of these 12 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.
Damaskeen
To decorate a metal by the inlaying of other metals, or by etching designs upon its surface. The embellishment of the surface of metals with rings or bars is snailing and is not damaskeening, although improperly called so by watchmakers and watch factory employees particularly. See Snailing, also Electro Plating, Bronzing and Staining. DAY. The whole time or period of one revolution of the earth on its axis.
Only in American Watchmaker and Jeweler
Dame Durden
in an old English song, a famous housewife. In Dickens' Bleak House the careful and conscientious Esther Summerson is affectionately called "Dame Durden" by Mr. Jarndyce, owner of "Bleak House."
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Damear
A mystical city. (See Rosicrucians .)
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Damietta
a town of Lower Egypt, on the right bank of the chief E. mouth of the Nile, about 8 miles from its mouth. It is irregularly but well built, and has some handsome mosques and marble baths, and several bazaars. Its commerce has been much injured by the prosperity of Alexandria, but it still carries on a considerable tradė in exporting rice, fish (from Lake Menzala), coffee, and dates. The existing town was erected after 1251, but, prior to that, a city of the same name (more anciently Tamiáthis) stood more to the S. It was strongly fortified by the Saracens, and formed on that side the bulwark of Egypt against the early crusaders, who, however, succeeded in capturing it more than once. It was razed, and rebuilt farther inland on the site it now occupies, occиp by the Mameluke Sultan Beybars. Pop. about 30,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dammarin
Important: Safety Warning
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
a resin found in various species of dammar. D. orientalis furnishes one kind, which, mixed with chalk DAMASCUS and pulverized bamboo-bark, is used for caulking ships. Another kind, obtained from the D. australis, or cowrie pine of New Zealand, is dissolved in turpentine and used as a colorless varnish. It is also used for mounting purposes instead of Canada balsam. The best form of varnish is to dissolve one ounce of dammar gum in a fluid ounce of turpentine; to dissolve one ounce of mastic in two fluid ounces of chloroform, and mix.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Damo
A daughter of Pythagoras and Theano, to whom Pythagoras entrusted his writings, and forbade her to give them to anyone. This command she strictly observed, although she was in extreme poverty and received many requests to sell them.
Only in 1000 Classical Characters
Damodar
a river of Bengal, which after a S. E. course, falls into the Hugli, just above the James and Mary Sands. A little below the mouth of its chief tributary, the Barákhar, which it receives from the N., the Damodar becomes navigable. The valleys of these two streams contain the coal-fields which produce about four-fifths of the whole amount of coal mined in British India. Length about 350 miles.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Damon
a Pythagorean philosopher, memorable for his friendship with Pythias, or Phintias. Dionysius of Syracuse having condemned Damon to death, he obtained leave of absence to go home and settle his affairs, Pythias pledging himself to endure the punishment in his stead if he did not return at the appointed time. Damon was punctual; and this instance of friendship so pleased the king, that he pardoned him, and begged, but in vain, to be admitted to their friendship.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Damon and Pythias
or Phintias, two noble citizens of Syracuse, noted for their supreme friendship. Phintias, having incurred the displeasure of the tryant Dionysius, was condemned to die. He begged to be allowed to go home to put his affairs in order. This was agreed to, Damon taking his place in prison. In some way Phintias was delayed. In spite of the jeers of the populace Damon defended his friend's absence with the utmost confidence in his fidelity. Phintias arrived just as Damon was being led out to die in his place. He cast himself into his friend's arms, demanding the latter's instant release and his own execution. Each begged to die for the other. The tryant was so affected by this constancy that he set them both free, and asked to become a third in their fellowship. The friendship of these two has been the subject of many an allusion and the theme of the drama in more than one language.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Damper
A very useful and profitable device in a foundry oven, when intelligently managed. A right knowledge of its use saves both time and money to the founder. Frequently none are employed; and not unfrequently, at places where dampers were originally intended, they have been allowed to lapse into desuetude through sheer and unwarrantable neglect. Let a good-sized chimney, controlled by a full damper, be placed if possible central with the oven at the roof, and one on each side, diagonally, at the bottom, with these. Careful attention will discover in what manner to best rid the oven of steam, at the same time losing no heat. By constant application to find a satisfactory solution of the above problem, ovens with absolutely no record may easily have their value increased a hundredfold. See OVENS.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Dampier
the name of several places in Australasia: (1) Dampier Archipelago, a cluster of about 20 small rocky islands off the N. W. coast of Australia, in 21° S. lat.., and 117° E. lon., divided by the Mermaid Strait in two groups; in the E. is Rosemary, the largest island. (2) Dampier Island, off the N. E. coast of New Guinea, with a volcano about 5,250 feet high. (3) Dampier's Land, a peninsula of Western Australia, fertile and well watered, lying between King Sound and the Indian Ocean. (4) Dampier Strait, between New Guinea and the archipelago of New Britain, forming, E., the with Goshen Strait to the S. E.,. shortest route from eastern Australia to China by some 300 miles. (5) Dampier Strait, separating the island of Waygiou from the N. W. extremity of New Guinea, the safest and easiest passage between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
WILLIAM (dam'pēr), an English navigator; born in East Coker, Somersetshire, in 1652; became a mariner at an early age. During many years of active service in privateers and trading-vessels, he several times visited the South seas; and the results of his observations were given to the public in a work entitled "A Voyage Round the World," which for accuracy and interest, as well as for professional knowledge, possesses considerable merit. He died about 1715.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia