DOCK

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English docce; akin to Middle Dutch ~e ~ Date: before 12th century any of a genus ( Rumex ) of coarse weedy plants of the buckwheat family having long taproots and sometimes used as potherbs, any of several usually broad-leaved weedy plants (as of the genus Silphium ), II. noun Etymology: Middle English dok, perhaps from Old English -docca (as in fingirdocca finger muscle); akin to Old High German tocka doll, Old Norse dokka bundle Date: 14th century the solid part of an animal's tail as distinguished from the hair, the part of an animal's tail left after it has been shortened, III. transitive verb Date: 14th century 1. to cut off the end of a body part of, to cut (as ears or a tail) short, 2. to take away a part of ; abridge , to subject (as wages) to a deduction, to penalize by depriving of a benefit ordinarily due, IV. noun Etymology: Middle English dokke, probably from Middle Dutch ~e Date: 15th century a usually artificial basin or enclosure for the reception of ships that is equipped with means for controlling the water height, slip II,1b, 3. a place (as a wharf or platform) for the loading or unloading of materials, a usually wooden pier used as a landing place or moorage for boats, V. verb Date: 1600 transitive verb to haul or guide into or alongside a ~, to join (as two spacecraft) mechanically while in space, intransitive verb to come into or alongside a ~, to become ~ed, VI. noun Etymology: Dutch dialect (Flanders) ~e cage Date: 1586 the place in a criminal court where a prisoner stands or sits during trial