Dust \Dust\ (d[u^]st), n. [AS. dust; cf. LG. dust, D. duist meal
dust, OD. doest, donst, and G. dunst vapor, OHG. tunist,
dunist, a blowing, wind, Icel. dust dust, Dan. dyst mill
dust; perh. akin to L. fumus smoke, E. fume. [root]71.]
1. Fine, dry particles of earth or other matter, so
comminuted that they may be raised and wafted by the wind;
that which is crumbled to minute portions; fine powder;
as, clouds of dust; bone dust.
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Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
--Gen. iii.
19.
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Stop! -- for thy tread is on an empire's dust.
--Byron.
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2. A single particle of earth or other matter. [R.] "To touch
a dust of England's ground." --Shak.
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3. The earth, as the resting place of the dead.
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For now shall sleep in the dust. --Job vii. 21.
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4. The earthy remains of bodies once alive; the remains of
the human body.
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And you may carve a shrine about my dust.
--Tennyson.
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5. Figuratively, a worthless thing.
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And by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust. --Shak.
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6. Figuratively, a low or mean condition.
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[God] raiseth up the poor out of the dust. --1 Sam.
ii. 8.
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7. Gold dust; hence: (Slang) Coined money; cash.
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{Down with the dust}, deposit the cash; pay down the money.
[Slang] "My lord, quoth the king, presently deposit your
hundred pounds in gold, or else no going hence all the
days of your life. . . . The Abbot down with his dust, and
glad he escaped so, returned to Reading." --Fuller.
{Dust brand} (Bot.), a fungous plant ({Ustilago Carbo}); --
called also {smut}.
{Gold dust}, fine particles of gold, such as are obtained in
placer mining; -- often used as money, being transferred
by weight.
{In dust and ashes}. See under {Ashes}.
{To bite the dust}. See under {Bite}, v. t.
{To raise dust}, or
{To kick up dust}, to make a commotion. [Colloq.]
{To throw dust in ones eyes}, to mislead; to deceive.
[Colloq.]
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