Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Dock \Dock\, n. [Akin to D. dok; of uncertain origin; cf. LL.
   doga ditch, L. doga ditch, L. doga sort of vessel, Gr. ?
   receptacle, fr. ? to receive.]
   1. An artificial basin or an inclosure in connection with a
      harbor or river, -- used for the reception of vessels, and
      provided with gates for keeping in or shutting out the
      tide.

   2. The slip or water way extending between two piers or
      projecting wharves, for the reception of ships; --
      sometimes including the piers themselves; as, to be down
      on the dock.

   3. The place in court where a criminal or accused person
      stands.

   {Balance dock}, a kind of {floating dock} which is kept level
      by pumping water out of, or letting it into, the
      compartments of side chambers.

   {Dry dock}, a dock from which the water may be shut or pumped
      out, especially, one in the form of a chamber having walls
      and floor, often of masonry and communicating with deep
      water, but having appliances for excluding it; -- used in
      constructing or repairing ships. The name includes
      structures used for the examination, repairing, or
      building of vessels, as graving docks, floating docks,
      hydraulic docks, etc.

   {Floating dock}, a dock which is made to become buoyant, and,
      by floating, to lift a vessel out of water.

   {Graving dock}, a dock for holding a ship for graving or
      cleaning the bottom, etc.

   {Hydraulic dock}, a dock in which a vessel is raised clear of
      the water by hydraulic presses.

   {Naval dock}, a dock connected with which are naval stores,
      materials, and all conveniences for the construction and
      repair of ships.

   {Sectional dock}, a form of {floating dock} made in separate
      sections or caissons.

   {Slip dock}, a dock having a sloping floor that extends from
      deep water to above high-water mark, and upon which is a
      railway on which runs a cradle carrying the ship.

   {Wet dock}, a dock where the water is shut in, and kept at a
      given level, to facilitate the loading and unloading of
      ships; -- also sometimes used as a place of safety; a
      basin.

Dock \Dock\ (d[o^]k), n. [AS. docce; of uncertain origin; cf. G.
   docken-bl["a]tter, Gael. dogha burdock, OF. doque; perh. akin
   to L. daucus, daucum, Gr. ?, ?, a kind of parsnip or carrot,
   used in medicine. Cf. {Burdock}.] (Bot.)
   A genus of plants ({Rumex}), some species of which are
   well-known weeds which have a long taproot and are difficult
   of extermination.

   Note: Yellow dock is {Rumex crispus}, with smooth curly
         leaves and yellow root, which that of other species is
         used medicinally as an astringent and tonic.

Dock \Dock\, n. [Cf. Icel. dockr a short tail, Fries. dok a
   little bundle or bunch, G. docke bundle, skein, a short and
   thick column.]
   1. The solid part of an animal's tail, as distinguished from
      the hair; the stump of a tail; the part of a tail left
      after clipping or cutting. --Grew.

   2. A case of leather to cover the clipped or cut tail of a
      horse.

Dock \Dock\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Docked}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Docking}.] [See {Dock} a tail. Cf. W. tociaw, and twciaw, to
   dock, clip.]
   1. to cut off, as the end of a thing; to curtail; to cut
      short; to clip; as, to dock the tail of a horse.

            His top was docked like a priest biforn. -- Chaucer.

   2. To cut off a part from; to shorten; to deduct from; to
      subject to a deduction; as, to dock one's wages.

   3. To cut off, bar, or destroy; as, to dock an entail.

Dock \Dock\, v. t.
   To draw, law, or place (a ship) in a dock, for repairing,
   cleaning the bottom, etc.

Source : WordNet®

dock
     v 1: come into dock; "the ship docked" [ant: {undock}]
     2: deprive someone of benefits, as a penalty
     3: deduct from someone's wages
     4: remove or shorten the tail of an animal [syn: {tail}, {bob}]
     5: haul into a dock; "dock the ships" [ant: {undock}]

dock
     n 1: an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits
          during the trial
     2: any of certain coarse weedy plants with long taproots,
        sometimes used as table greens or in folk medicine [syn: {sorrel},
         {sour grass}]
     3: a platform built out from the shore into the water and
        supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
        [syn: {pier}, {wharf}, {wharfage}]
     4: a platform where trucks or trains can be loaded or unloaded
        [syn: {loading dock}]
     5: landing in a harbor next to a pier where ships are loaded
        and unloaded or repaired; may have gates to let water in
        or out; "the ship arrived at the dock more than a day
        late" [syn: {dockage}, {docking facility}]
     6: the solid bony part of the tail of an animal as
        distinguished from the hair
     7: a short or shortened tail of certain animals [syn: {bobtail},
         {bob}]