GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Dam , n. [OE. dame mistress, lady; also, mother, dam. See Dame.]
    A female parent; -- used of beasts, especially of quadrupeds; sometimes applied in contempt to a human mother.
   1913 Webster
   Our sire and dam, now confined to horses, are a relic of this age (13th century) . . . .Dame is used of a hen; we now make a great difference between dame and dam.
   T. L. K. Oliphant.
   
   1913 Webster
   The dam runs lowing up and down,
   Looking the way her harmless young one went.
   Shak.
   
   1913 Webster
   A king or crowned piece in the game of draughts.
   1913 Webster
         
       

2.       
   Dam, n. [Akin to OLG., D., & Dan. dam, G. & Sw. damm, Icel. dammr, and AS. fordemman to stop up, Goth. Faúrdammjan.]
   A barrier to prevent the flow of a liquid; esp., a bank of earth, or wall of any kind, as of masonry or wood, built across a water course, to confine and keep back flowing water.
   1913 Webster
   (Metal.) A firebrick wall, or a stone, which forms the front of the hearth of a blast furnace.
   1913 Webster
   Dam plate (Blast Furnace), an iron plate in front of the dam, to strengthen it.
   1913 Webster
   
         
       

3.       
   Dam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dammed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Damming.]
   To obstruct or restrain the flow of, by a dam; to confine by constructing a dam, as a stream of water; -- generally used with in or up.
   1913 Webster
   I'll have the current in this place dammed up.
   Shak.
   
   1913 Webster
   A weight of earth that dams in the water.
   Mortimer.
   
   1913 Webster
   To shut up; to stop up; to close; to restrain.
   1913 Webster
   The strait pass was dammed
   With dead men hurt behind, and cowards.
   Shak.
   
   1913 Webster
   To dam out, to keep out by means of a dam.
   1913 Webster