D, the (n.): detective. ‘De dee. The detective’ (Shaw et al. 1966: 64). ‘The plain-clothes policemen, or “D”s’ (Unwin 1984 [1920s–30s]: 100). ‘De dee; dee jack The detective’ (Spiegl 2000b: 148). Recorded from m.19c.; an Australian coinage; by simple abbreviation.

D.R. (phr.): ‘Declines to report’. ‘Ee gimee a dee aah!’ A yelp often heard from one of the crew meaning: The Captain stamped a D.R. in my Seaman's Discharge Book’ (Minard 1972: 97). *NR; at the end of a voyage, the captain submitted a brief report in a seaman's discharge book on his ability and conduct; <I>D.R. was effectively a negative comment.

Da (n.): father. ‘If the kid didn't start yowling and calling me “da”’ (Hanley 2009 [1940]: 193). ‘A present for me da’ (Owen 1961: 21). ‘“Mon Per” is yer da’ (Jacques 1972: n.p.). ‘Me da's suit’ (Sinclair 1999 [1930s–e.40s]: 34). ‘Da's family worshipped him’ (Callaghan 2011 [1920s–30s]: 46). Recorded from m.19c.; a simple abbreviation, probably from Irish English.

Daddy Bunchy (n.): Liverpool bogeyman. ‘The gallery of Liverpool's characters with Dick Tutt, Hickey the Firebobby, Daddy Bunchy (a bogey for the children) …’ (Shaw 1955a: 6).

Daddy Bunchy (n.): children's game. ‘“Daddy Bunchy” reminds me that years ago the girls used to play a game with that name in the playground or streets’ (Lovegreen 1955: 6). *NR; the name for a game of snatch and a skipping song; presumably from Daddy Bunchy 1.

Daddy Bunchy (n.): dandelion. ‘Daddy Bunchie. Dandelion when the flower heads have ripened. Everton’ (Howarth 1985: n.p.). *NR; derivation unknown.

Damage (n.): cost, price; bill. ‘Regie asked the young woman at the stall “what the damage was”’ (Tirebuck 1891: 297). ‘Wossa damage? How much does it cost?’ (Spiegl 2000b: 73). Recorded from 18c.; an extension of an earlier legal meaning: the monetary value of a loss or injury (modern English ‘damages’).