figurative sense
121busker — (n.) itinerant entertainer, 1857, from busk (v.) to offer goods for sale only in bars and taprooms, 1851 (in Mayhew), perhaps from busk to cruise as a pirate, which was used in a figurative sense by 1841, in reference to people living shifless… …
122cold — {{11}}cold (adj.) O.E. cald (Anglian), ceald (W.Saxon) cold, cool (adj.), coldness, from P.Gmc. *kaldaz (Cf. O.Fris., O.S. kald, O.H.G., Ger. kalt, O.N. kaldr, Goth. kalds cold ), possibly a pp. adjective of *kal /*kol , from PIE root *gel /*gol …
123dig — early 14c. (diggen), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to dike and ditch, either via O.Fr. diguer (ultimately from a Germanic source), or directly from an unrecorded O.E. word. Native words were deolfan (see DELVE (Cf. delve)), grafan (see… …
124divest — 1560s, devest (modern spelling is c.1600), from M.Fr. devester strip of possessions, from O.Fr. desvestir, from des away (see DIS (Cf. dis )) + vestir to clothe (see VEST (Cf. vest) (v.)). The figurative sense of strip of possessions is earliest… …
125duck — {{11}}duck (n.1) waterfowl, O.E. duce (found only in gen. ducan) a duck, lit. a ducker, presumed to be from O.E. *ducan to duck, dive (see DUCK (Cf. duck) (v.)), replaced O.E. ened as the name for the bird, this being from PIE *aneti , the root… …
126ease — {{11}}ease (n.) early 13c., from O.Fr. aise comfort, pleasure, well being; opportunity, of unknown origin, despite attempts to link it to various Latin verbs. The earliest senses in French appear to be 1. elbow room (from an 11th century Hebrew… …
127engineer — {{11}}engineer (n.) early 14c., constructor of military engines, from O.Fr. engigneor, from L.L. ingeniare (see ENGINE (Cf. engine)); general sense of inventor, designer is recorded from early 15c.; civil sense, in reference to public works, is… …
128flame — {{11}}flame (n.) mid 14c., from Anglo Fr. flaume, O.Fr. flamme (10c.), from L. flammula small flame, dim. of flamma flame, blazing fire, from PIE *bhleg to shine, flash, from root *bhel (1) to shine, flash, burn (see BLEACH (Cf. bleach)). The… …
