DOWNBEAT

PRONUNCIATION: (DAUN-beet)

MEANING: noun: 1. The downward stroke of a conductor indicating the first or an accented beat of a measure.
2. The first beat of a measure.
adjective: 1. Gloomy or pessimistic.
2. Understated, muted, or restrained.

ETYMOLOGY: From down, from Old English dun/dune, from adune (downward), from the phrase “of dune” (off the hill), from dun (hill) + beat, from Old English beatan. Earliest documented use: 1766.
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DAWNBEAT - more succinct version of "The early bird gets the worm"

DOWNBOAT - launch the life-raft !

DOWNBLEAT - plaintive sound from a duck after its feathers are plucked