to dub a fly

1 definition found

to dub a fly - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Dub \Dub\ (d[u^]b), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dubbed (d[u^]bd); p.
     pr. & vb. n. Dubbing.] [AS. dubban to strike, beat
     ("dubbade his sunu . . . to r[imac]dere." --AS. Chron. an.
     1086); akin to Icel. dubba; cf. OF. adouber (prob. fr. Icel.)
     a chevalier, Icel. dubba til riddara.]
     1. To confer knighthood upon; as, the king dubbed his son
        Henry a knight.
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     Note: The conclusion of the ceremony was marked by a tap on
           the shoulder with the sword.
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     2. To invest with any dignity or new character; to entitle;
        to call.
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              A man of wealth is dubbed a man of worth. --Pope.
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     3. To clothe or invest; to ornament; to adorn. [Obs.]
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              His diadem was dropped down
              Dubbed with stones.                   --Morte
                                                    d'Arthure.
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     4. To strike, rub, or dress smooth; to dab; as:
        (a) To dress with an adz; as, to dub a stick of timber
            smooth.
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        (b) To strike cloth with teasels to raise a nap.
            --Halliwell.
        (c) To rub or dress with grease, as leather in the process
            of cyrrying it. --Tomlinson.
        (d) To prepare for fighting, as a gamecock, by trimming
            the hackles and cutting off the comb and wattles.
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     To dub a fly, to dress a fishing fly. [Prov. Eng.]
        --Halliwell.
  
     To dub out (Plastering), to fill out, as an uneven surface,
        to a plane, or to carry out a series of small projections.
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