DONJON, the grand central tower of a Norman or mediæval castle, frequently raised on an artificial elevation. It was the strongest portion of the building, a high square tower with walls of enormous thickness, usually detached from the surrounding buildings by an open space walled, called the Inner Bailey, and another beyond called the Outer Bailey. Here, in case of the outward defenses being gained, the garrison retreated to make their last stand. The donjon contained the great hall, and principal rooms of state for solemn occasions, and also the prison fortress; from which last circumstance we derive the modern and restricted use of the word dungeon. Examples are seen in the White Tower, in the Tower of London, Rochester Castle, and in the Castle at Newcastle. It was also called the donjon-keep.
DON JUAN (whän) the hero of a Spanish legend which seems to have had some historical basis in the history of a member of the noble family of Tenorio at Seville. The legend has furnished the subject for many dramas and operas. The most famous of the latter is Mozart's "Don Giovanni." Among the former are "Don Juan ou Le Festin de Pierre," by Molière and "The Libertine," by Shadwell. The "Don Juan" of Byron bears no relation to the old story.
DONKEY ENGINE, a small engine used in various operations where no great power is required. Thus a donkey engine is often stationed on the deck of a ship to work a crane for loading and unloading.
DONNE, JOHN, a celebrated English poet and clergyman; born in London in 1573. He studied both at Oxford and Cambridge. In his 19th year he abjured the Catholic religion, and became secretary to the Lord-Chancellor Ellesmere, but finally lost his office by a clandestine marriage with his patron's niece. By the desire of King James, Donne took orders, and, settling in London, was made preacher of Lincoln's Inn. In 1621 he was appointed Dean of St. Paul's. He was chosen prolocutor to the convocation in 1623-1625. As a poet, and the precursor of Cowley, Donne may be deemed the founder of what Dr. Johnson calls the metaphysical class of poets. He wrote "Letters," "Sermons," "Essays on Divinity," and other pieces. He died in March, 1631, and was interred in St. Paul's.
DONNELLY, IGNATIUS, an American prose-writer; born in Philadelphia, Nov. 3, 1831. Among his writings are: An "Essay on the Sonnets of Shakespeare"; "Atlantis, the Antediluvian World" (1882); and "Ragnarok" (1883). In "The Great Cryptogram" he endeavors to prove that Francis Bacon was the author of Shakespeare's plays. His best known novel is "Cæsar's Column." He died in Minneapolis, Minn., Jan. 2, 1901.
DONNYBROOK, a former village and parish, now mostly embraced in the borough of Dublin, at one time celebrated for a fair (notorious for fighting) which was granted by King John, and abolished in 1855.
DONORA, a borough of Pennsylvania, in Washington co. It is on the Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie railroads, and on the Monongahela river. It is the center of an important coal mining and agricultural region, and has manufactures of steel wire, chemicals, gas mantles, etc. Pop. (1910) 8,174; (1920) 14,131.
DON QUIXOTE (kē-hō′tā), the title of a famous romance by Cervantes. The name of the hero, Don Quixote, is used as a synonym for foolish knight-errantry or extravagant generosity.
DOOM, the old name for the "Last Judgment," which impressive subject is usually painted over the chancel arch in parochial churches. Dooms were executed in distemper. One of the finest at present existing in England is in the Church of the Holy Trinity, in Coventry.
DOON, a river in Ayrshire, Scotland, which after a course of 30 miles falls into the Firth of Clyde. It is celebrated in the poems of Burns.
DOOR, a wooden or metal, or partly wood and partly metal frame, constructed so as to open and shut on hinges and close the entrance to a building, rooms, etc. The doors of ancient Egypt and contemporary nations swung upon vertical pintles which projected from the top and bottom of the door into sockets in the lintel and threshold respectively. The commonest form of door had the pintle in the middle of the width; so that, as it opened, a way was afforded on each side of it for ingress or egress. Double-margin doors are made in imitation of folding-doors, the middle style being made double with an intervening bead. Sliding-doors are an improvement on folding; they slip into grooves in the partition. A proper-ledged door is one made of boards placed side by side with battens called ledges at the back. With a diagonal piece at the back, in addition, it is said to be framed and ledged.
DOORGA, the appellation of a giant slain by Doorga, to whom, consequently, his name was transferred. In Hindu mythology the principal wife as well as
