Dock

n. [ Cf. Icel. dockr a short tail, Fries. dok a little bundle or bunch, G. docke bundle, skein, a short and thick column. ] 1. The solid part of an animal's tail, as distinguished from the hair; the stump of a tail; the part of a tail left after clipping or cutting. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A case of leather to cover the clipped or cut tail of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Docked p. pr. & vb. n. Docking. ] [ See Dock a tail. Cf. W. tociaw, and twciaw, to dock, clip. ] 1. to cut off, as the end of a thing; to curtail; to cut short; to clip; as, to dock the tail of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

His top was docked like a priest biforn. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cut off a part from; to shorten; to deduct from; to subject to a deduction; as, to dock one's wages. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cut off, bar, or destroy; as, to dock an entail. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. docce; of uncertain origin; cf. G. docken-blätter, Gael. dogha burdock, OF. doque; perh. akin to L. daucus, daucum, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, a kind of parsnip or carrot, used in medicine. Cf. Burdock. ] (Bot.) A genus of plants (Rumex), some species of which are well-known weeds which have a long taproot and are difficult of extermination. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Yellow dock is Rumex crispus, with smooth curly leaves and yellow root, which that of other species is used medicinally as an astringent and tonic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Akin to D. dok; of uncertain origin; cf. LL. doga ditch, L. doga ditch, L. doga sort of vessel, Gr. &unr_; receptacle, fr. &unr_; to receive. ] 1. An artificial basin or an inclosure in connection with a harbor or river, -- used for the reception of vessels, and provided with gates for keeping in or shutting out the tide. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The slip or water way extending between two piers or projecting wharves, for the reception of ships; -- sometimes including the piers themselves; as, to be down on the dock. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The place in court where a criminal or accused person stands. [ 1913 Webster ]

Balance dock, a kind of floating dock which is kept level by pumping water out of, or letting it into, the compartments of side chambers. --
Dry dock, a dock from which the water may be shut or pumped out, especially, one in the form of a chamber having walls and floor, often of masonry and communicating with deep water, but having appliances for excluding it; -- used in constructing or repairing ships. The name includes structures used for the examination, repairing, or building of vessels, as graving docks, floating docks, hydraulic docks, etc. --
Floating dock, a dock which is made to become buoyant, and, by floating, to lift a vessel out of water. --
Graving dock, a dock for holding a ship for graving or cleaning the bottom, etc. --
Hydraulic dock, a dock in which a vessel is raised clear of the water by hydraulic presses. --
Naval dock, a dock connected with which are naval stores, materials, and all conveniences for the construction and repair of ships. --
Sectional dock, a form of floating dock made in separate sections or caissons. --
Slip dock, a dock having a sloping floor that extends from deep water to above high-water mark, and upon which is a railway on which runs a cradle carrying the ship. --
Wet dock, a dock where the water is shut in, and kept at a given level, to facilitate the loading and unloading of ships; -- also sometimes used as a place of safety; a basin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A charge for the use of a dock. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Nipplewort. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a laborer who loads and unloads vessels in a port.
Syn. -- stevedore, loader, longshoreman, dockhand, dock worker, dock-walloper, lumper. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Docketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Docketing. ] 1. To make a brief abstract of (a writing) and indorse it on the back of the paper, or to indorse the title or contents on the back of; to summarize; as, to docket letters and papers. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) (a) To make a brief abstract of and inscribe in a book; as, judgments regularly docketed. (b) To enter or inscribe in a docket, or list of causes for trial. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To mark with a ticket; as, to docket goods. [ 1913 Webster ]