n. [ OF. dossel; cf. LL. dorsale. See Dorsal, and cf. Dorse, Dorsel. ] Same as Dorsal, n. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. dose, Gr. do`sis a giving, a dose, fr. dido`nai to give; akin to L. dare to give. See Date point of time. ] 1. The quantity of medicine given, or prescribed to be taken, at one time. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sufficient quantity; a portion; as much as one can take, or as falls to one to receive. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything unpleasant that one is obliged to take; a disagreeable portion thrust upon one; also used figuratively, as to give someone a dose of his own medicine, i. e. to retaliate in kind. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am for curing the world by gentle alteratives, not by violent doses. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

I dare undertake that as fulsome a dose as you give him, he shall readily take it down. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. a quantity of radiation which an object absorbs, or to which it is exposed. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dosed p. pr. & vb. n. dosing. ] [ Cf. F. doser. See Dose, n. ] 1. To proportion properly (a medicine), with reference to the patient or the disease; to form into suitable doses. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give doses to; to medicine or physic to; to give potions to, constantly and without need. [ 1913 Webster ]

A self-opinioned physician, worse than his distemper, who shall dose, and bleed, and kill him, “secundum artem.” South [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To give anything nauseous to. [ 1913 Webster ]