Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Dart?

\Dart\, n. [OF. dart, of German origin; cf. OHG. tart javelin, dart, AS. dara?, daro?, Sw. dart dagger, Icel. darra?r dart.] 1. A pointed missile weapon, intended to be thrown by the hand; a short lance; a javelin; hence, any sharp-pointed missile weapon, as an arrow. And he [Joab] took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom. --2 Sa. xviii. 14. 2. Anything resembling a dart; anything that pierces or wounds like a dart. The artful inquiry, whose venomed dart Scarce wounds the hearing while it stabs the heart. --Hannan More. 3. A spear set as a prize in running. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 4. (Zo["o]l.) A fish; the dace. See {Dace}. {Dart sac} (Zo["o]l.), a sac connected with the reproductive organs of land snails, which contains a dart, or arrowlike structure.
\Dart\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Darted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Darting}.] 1. To throw with a sudden effort or thrust, as a dart or other missile weapon; to hurl or launch. 2. To throw suddenly or rapidly; to send forth; to emit; to shoot; as, the sun darts forth his beams. Or what ill eyes malignant glances dart? --Pope.
\Dart\, v. i. 1. To fly or pass swiftly, as a dart. 2. To start and run with velocity; to shoot rapidly along; as, the deer darted from the thicket.