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Webster 1913 Edition

Dust

Dust

(dŭst)
,
Noun.
[AS.
dust
; cf. LG.
dust
, D.
duist
meal dust, OD.
doest
,
donst
, and G.
dunst
vapor, OHG.
tunist
,
dunist
, a blowing, wind, Icel.
dust
dust, Dan.
dyst
mill dust; perh. akin to L.
fumus
smoke, E.
fume
. √71.]
1.
Fine, dry particles of earth or other matter, so comminuted that they may be raised and wafted by the wind; that which is crumbled to minute portions; fine powder;
as, clouds of
dust
; bone
dust
.
Dust
thou art, and unto
dust
shalt thou return.
Gen. iii. 19.
Stop! – for thy tread is on an empire’s
dust
.
Byron.
2.
A single particle of earth or other matter.
[R.]
“To touch a dust of England's ground.”
Shak.
3.
The earth, as the resting place of the dead.
For now shall sleep in the
dust
.
Job vii. 21.
4.
The earthy remains of bodies once alive; the remains of the human body.
And you may carve a shrine about my
dust
.
Tennyson.
5.
Figuratively, a worthless thing.
And by the merit of vile gold, dross,
dust
.
Shakespeare
6.
Figuratively, a low or mean condition.
[God] raiseth up the poor out of the
dust
.
1 Sam. ii. 8.
7.
Gold dust
; hence: (
Slang
)
Coined money; cash.
Down with the dust
,
deposit the cash; pay down the money.
[Slang]
“My lord, quoth the king, presently deposit your hundred pounds in gold, or else no going hence all the days of your life. . . . The Abbot down with his dust, and glad he escaped so, returned to Reading.”
Fuller.
–
Dust brand
(Bot.)
,
a fungous plant (
Ustilago Carbo
); – called also
smut
.
–
Gold dust
,
fine particles of gold, such as are obtained in placer mining; – often used as money, being transferred by weight.
–
In dust and ashes
.
See under
Ashes
.
–
To bite the dust
.
See under
Bite
,
Verb.
T.
–
To raise dust
, or
To kick up dust
,
to make a commotion.
[Colloq.]
–
To throw dust in one's eyes
,
to mislead; to deceive.
[Colloq.]

Dust

(dŭst)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Dusted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Dusting
.]
1.
To free from dust; to brush, wipe, or sweep away dust from;
as, to
dust
a table or a floor
.
2.
To sprinkle with dust.
3.
To reduce to a fine powder; to levigate.
Sprat.
To dyst one's jacket
,
to give one a flogging.
[Slang.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Dust

DUST

,
Noun.
1.
Fine dry particles of earth or other matter, so attenuated that it may be raised and wafted by the wind; powder; as clouds of dust and seas of blood.
2.
Fine dry particles of earth; fine earth.
The peacock warmeth her eggs in the dust. Job 34.
3.
Earth; unorganized earthy matter.
Dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3.
4.
The grave.
For now shall I sleep in the dust. Job 7.
5.
A low condition.
God raiseth the poor out of the dust. 1 Samuel 2.

DUST

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To free from dust; to brush, wipe or sweep away dust; as, to dust a table or a floor.
2.
To sprinkle with dust.
3.
To levigate.

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