prop. n. [ from Department of Defense. ] the United States Department of Defense, the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security; created in 1947. It includes within its jurisdiction control of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. [ acronym ]
Syn. -- Department of Defense, Defense Department, Defense. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

{ , v. t. [ OE. dodden. ] To cut off, as wool from sheep's tails; to lop or clip off. Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A game much like hockey, played in an open field; also, the, bent stick for playing the game. [ Local, Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Dodd. ] Without horns; as, dodded cattle; without beards; as, dodded corn. Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Dan. dodder, Sw. dodra, G. dotter. ] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Cuscuta. It is a leafless parasitical vine with yellowish threadlike stems. It attaches itself to some other plant, as to flax, goldenrod, etc., and decaying at the root, is nourished by the plant that supports it. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ Cf. AS. dyderian to deceive, delude, and E. didder, dudder. ] To shake, tremble, or totter. “The doddering mast.” Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Shattered; infirm. “A laurel grew, doddered with age.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. shaking as from old age.
Syn. -- doddery, shaking, tottering, tottery. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. mentally or physically infirm with age.
Syn. -- gaga, senile. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. same as doddering{ 1 }.
Syn. -- doddering, shaking, tottering, tottery. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; twelve + &unr_; angle: cf. F. dodécagone. ] (Geom.) A figure or polygon bounded by twelve sides and containing twelve angles. [ 1913 Webster ]