dart n Cp PARTRIDGE ~ . Kilkenny Lexicon for sense 2; OED sb 6 for sense 3.
   1 A type of harpoon used by Inuit in killing seals, birds and salmon; also attrib.
   [1771] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 139-40 The other six [Esquimaux) attended in their kyacks, and threw their different kinds of darts as they went along; an art at which they are amazingly dexterous. 1839 TUCKER 113 Advancing near enough, for he is sure to measure his distance with accuracy, he flings the dart, and scarcely ever fails to strike. The seal, terrified and wounded, dives in the greatest terror; but a float being attached to the dart by a leathern line, he is soon forced up again, and despatched. 1866 WILSON 297 The canoe, darts, kettles. and other utensils are buried with [the Eskimo], supposing he will need them in another world. 1916 GRENFELL 231 The remaining dog-traces. and every square inch of skin, including the dart-line, had to be split for thongs to fasten the little pieces of wood together. 1916 HAWKES 33 Small birds, particularly the little sea-pigeon ... and 'Tinker' duck are secured in summer with the bird dart or net and added to the winter store. 1977 Inuit Land Use 168 And the men weren't allowed to fire any guns—or anything like that. They were allowed to use the dart.
   2 A quick blow; a teasing rebuke.
   1846 TOCQUE 196 Here you behold a heap of seals which have only received a slight dart from the gaff. [1929] 1933 GREENLEAF (ed) 161 "Maurice Kelly": His lower and top teeth tumbled out on the street / With the wonderful dart that he got from the ghost. 1964 Evening Telegram 2 Apr, p. 9 One night last Lent we saw a big man in our Church havin' a little snooze durin' the sermon. When we came out Ned sez, 'I'm goin' to give him a little dart about that.'
   3 Phr take/make a dart: to make a quick visit, a sudden movement.
   1933 GREENE 171 Even the Engineers and stokers take 'a dart up on deck' to see for themselves. T 31-64 I made a dart now to go along under the other one. And as I did, sling goes the other one an' took me, an' away I goes out in the water. C 71-89 Make a dart over to Mrs Smith's for some sugar.

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