any of various weedy plants belonging to the genus Rumex, of the buckwheat family, as R. obtusifolius(bitter dock) or R. acetosa(sour dock), having long taproots.
2.
any of various other plants, mostly coarse weeds.
Origin: bef. 1000; ME dokke, OE docce; c. MD docke, MHG tocke
"cut an animal's tail," c.1386, from dok (n.) "fleshy part of an animal's tail," related to O.E. -docca "muscle," from P.Gmc. *dokko "something round, bundle" (cf. O.N. dokka "bundle, girl," Dan. dukke "doll," Ger. Docke "small column, bundle, doll, smart girl"). Meaning "to reduce (someone's) pay for some infraction" is first recorded 1822.
Main Entry: dock Function: noun Etymology: Dutch dialect dockedok pen, cage : the place in a criminal court where a prisoner stands or sits during trial —compare BAR, BENCH, JURY BOX, SIDEBAR, STAND
[dok] 
