'Specific duty' definitions:

Definition of 'Specific duty'

From: GCIDE
  • specific \spe*cif"ic\ (sp[-e]*s[i^]f"[i^]k), a. [F. sp['e]cifique, or NL. spesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. specify.]
  • 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice. [1913 Webster]
  • Specific difference is that primary attribute which distinguishes each species from one another. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Med.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaptation, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria. [1913 Webster]
  • In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]
  • Specific character (Nat. Hist.), a characteristic or characteristics distinguishing one species from every other species of the same genus.
  • Specific disease (Med.) (a) A disease which produces a determinate definite effect upon the blood and tissues or upon some special tissue. (b) A disease which is itself uniformly produced by a definite and peculiar poison or organism.
  • Specific duty. (Com.) See under Duty.
  • Specific gravity. (Physics) See under Gravity.
  • Specific heat (Physics), the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a body one degree, taking as the unit of measure the quantity required to raise the same weight of water from zero to one degree; thus, the specific heat of mercury is 0.033, that of water being 1.000.
  • Specific inductive capacity (Physics), the effect of a dielectric body in producing static electric induction as compared with that of some other body or bodies referred to as a standard.
  • Specific legacy (Law), a bequest of a particular thing, as of a particular animal or piece of furniture, specified and distinguished from all others. --Wharton. --Burrill.
  • Specific name (Nat. Hist.), the name which, appended to the name of the genus, constitutes the distinctive name of the species; -- originally applied by Linnaeus to the essential character of the species, or the essential difference. The present specific name he at first called the trivial name.
  • Specific performance (Law), the peformance of a contract or agreement as decreed by a court of equity. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Specific duty'

From: GCIDE
  • Duty \Du"ty\, n.; pl. Duties. [From Due.]
  • 1. That which is due; payment. [Obs. as signifying a material thing.] [1913 Webster]
  • When thou receivest money for thy labor or ware, thou receivest thy duty. --Tyndale. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which a person is bound by moral obligation to do, or refrain from doing; that which one ought to do; service morally obligatory. [1913 Webster]
  • Forgetting his duty toward God, his sovereign lord, and his country. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Hence, any assigned service or business; as, the duties of a policeman, or a soldier; to be on duty. [1913 Webster]
  • With records sweet of duties done. --Keble. [1913 Webster]
  • To employ him on the hardest and most imperative duty. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]
  • Duty is a graver term than obligation. A duty hardly exists to do trivial things; but there may be an obligation to do them. --C. J. Smith. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Specifically, obedience or submission due to parents and superiors. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Respect; reverence; regard; act of respect; homage. "My duty to you." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Engin.) The efficiency of an engine, especially a steam pumping engine, as measured by work done by a certain quantity of fuel; usually, the number of pounds of water lifted one foot by one bushel of coal (94 lbs. old standard), or by 1 cwt. (112 lbs., England, or 100 lbs., United States). [1913 Webster]
  • 7. (Com.) Tax, toll, impost, or customs; excise; any sum of money required by government to be paid on the importation, exportation, or consumption of goods. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: An impost on land or other real estate, and on the stock of farmers, is not called a duty, but a direct tax. [U.S.] [1913 Webster]
  • Ad valorem duty, a duty which is graded according to the cost, or market value, of the article taxed. See {Ad valorem}.
  • Specific duty, a duty of a specific sum assessed on an article without reference to its value or market.
  • On duty, actually engaged in the performance of one's assigned task. [1913 Webster]