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