doric

Originally a Greek word meaning 'old, it was first used by the upper classes in the 18th Century to describe Scots - literally 'the old tongue'. To many older people the Doric is still used to describe Scots, but since the early 20 th Century it has increasingly come to mean the North-East dialect of Scots in a specific sense.

Dor"ic (?), a. [L. Doricus, Gr. , fr. the Dorians.]

1.

Pertaining to Doris, in ancient Greece, or to the Dorians; as, the Doric dialect.

2. Arch.

Belonging to, or resembling, the oldest and simplest of the three orders of architecture used by the Greeks, but ranked as second of the five orders adopted by the Romans. See Abacus, Capital, Order.

⇒ This order is distinguished, according to the treatment of details, as Grecian Doric, or Roman Doric.

3. Mus.

Of or relating to one of the ancient Greek musical modes or keys. Its character was adapted both to religions occasions and to war.

© Webster 1913.

Dor"ic, n.

The Doric dialect.

© Webster 1913.