n. [ AS. del, akin to E. dale; cf. D. delle, del, low ground. See Dale. ] 1. A small, retired valley; a ravine. [ 1913 Webster ]

In dells and dales, concealed from human sight. Tickell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A young woman; a wench. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Sweet doxies and dells. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ A shortened form of Accademia della Crusca, an academy in Florence, Italy, founded in the 16th century, especially for conserving the purity of the Italian language. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Accademia della Crusca (literally, academy of the bran or chaff) was so called in allusion to its chief object of bolting or purifying the national language. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the Accademia della Crusca in Florence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Dellacruscan School, a name given in satire to a class of affected English writers, most of whom lived in Florence, about a. d. 1785. [ 1913 Webster ]