Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/G Genius



the seventh letter of our alphabet, and in the Roman not originally differentiated from C, but substituted there for the disused Z: (mus.) the fifth note of the diatonic scale of C minor—also sol, the scale or key having that note for its tonic: (nat. phil.) a symbol for acceleration of gravity, which is about 32 feet per second: in the medieval system of Roman numerals=400, or G =400,000.

Gab, gab, v.i. (coll.) to chatter, prate.—n. idle talk, prattling: a jest, a witticism: (Scot.) the mouth.—n. ', jabber.—adj. ', garrulous.—Gift of the gab, a talent for talking.

Gab, gab, v.i. to brag. [O. Fr. gabber, to mock.]

Gabbart, gab′ärt, n. a flat river vessel with a long hatchway.—Also . [Fr. gabare—Prov. and It. gabarra.]

Gabbatha, gab′a-thä, n. the place where Pilate sat at the trial of Jesus, a tessellated pavement outside the prætorium. [Heb., 'platform.']

Gabble, gab′l, v.i. to talk inarticulately: to chatter: to cackle like geese.—ns. '; '; ', '. [Freq. of gab.]

Gabbro, gab′ro, n. a rock composed of feldspar and diallage—also Euphotide.—n. , a compact variety of scapolite, resembling gabbro. [It.]

Gabelle, gab-el′, n. a tax, impost duty, formerly in France, esp. the tax on salt.—n. . [Fr. gabelle—Low L. gabella, gablum—Teut.]

Gaberdine, gab-er-dēn′, n. a loose upper garment, formerly worn by Jews. [O. Fr. gauvardine; per. Mid. High Ger. wallevart, pilgrimage, whence also Sp. gabardina, &c.]

Gaberlunzie, gab-er-lun′zi, -yi, n. (Scot.) a pouch carried by Scottish beggars: a strolling beggar.

Gabion, gā′bi-un, n. (fort.) a bottomless basket of wicker-work filled with earth, used for shelter from the enemy's fire while digging trenches, or in forming the foundation of a jetty.—ns. ', a work formed of gabions; ', gabions collectively.—adj. , furnished with gabions. [Fr.,—It. gabbione, a large cage—gabbia—L. cavea, a cage.]

Gable, gā′bl, n. (archit.) the triangular part of an exterior wall of a building between the top of the side-walls and the slopes on the roof—(Scot.) '.—adj. '.—ns. ', the end-wall of a building on the side where there is a gable; ' (dim.), a small gable, as an ornament on buttresses, &c.; , a window in the gable-end of a building, or a window with its upper part shaped like a gable. [The northern form gavel is prob. Ice. gafl; Sw. gafvel, Dan. gavl. The southern form gable is prob. through O. Fr. gable, jable from Ice. gafl.]

Gabriel's hounds. See Hound.

Gaby, gā′bi, n. a simpleton. [Hardly related to gape.]

Gad, gad, n. a pointed bar of steel: a tool used in mining: a graver: a rod or stick, a goad: the bar across a Scotch condemned cell, on which the iron ring ran which fastened the shackles—also Gade, Gaid.—n. , one of the spikes on the knuckles of a gauntlet.—Upon the gad (Shak.), upon the spur of the moment. [Ice. gadd-r, a spike.]

Gad, gad, interj. a minced form of God.—interjs. ', an exclamation of surprise; ', an obsolete minced oath.

Gad, gad, v.i. to rove about restlessly: to wander or ramble in speech, &c., to straggle in growth:—pr.p. pa.p. —ns. Gad, ', one who walks idly about; '.—adv. '—n. '. [Prob. conn. with gad in gadfly; or obsolete gadling, vagabond.]

Gadfly, gad′flī, n. a fly which pierces the skin of cattle in order to deposit its eggs: a mischievous gadabout. [From gad, n., fly.]

Gadge, gaj, n. an instrument of torture (Browning).

Gadhelic, gad-el′ik, adj. of or belonging to that branch of the Celtic race which comprises the Erse of Ireland, the Gaels of Scotland, and the Manx of the Isle of Man, as distinguished from the Cymric. [Ir. Gaedheal (pl. Gaedhil), a Gael.]

Gadoid, gā′doid, adj. pertaining to the Gadidæ, or cod-fishes.—n. a fish of this family.—n. ', a fish of this family.—adj. '.—n. , the typical genus of the same. [Gr. gados.]

Gadolinite, gad′ō-lin-īt, n. a silicate of the yttrium and cerium metals, containing also beryllium and iron. [From the Finnish chemist Gadolin (1760-1852).]

Gadroon, gad-rōōn′, n. one of a set of convex curves or arcs joined at their extremities to form a decorative pattern—in plate, &c.—adj. '.—n. '. [Fr. godron.]

Gadsman, gadz′man, n. (Scot.) one who drives horses at the plough. [Gad and man.]

Gadwall, gad′wawl, n. a northern fresh-water duck.

Gae, gā, a Scotch form of go.

Gael, gāl, n. a Scotch Highlander.—adj. Gaelic pertaining to the Gaels.—n. the Scottish-Highland dialect.—v.t. '.—n. '. [Gael. Gaidheal.]

Gaff, gaf, n. a hook used esp. for landing large fish after they have been hooked on the line and spent by the skill of the angler: (naut.) the spar to which the head of a fore-and-aft sail is bent.—v.t. to hook or bind by means of a gaff.—n. , a small sail, the head of which is extended on a small gaff which hoists on the top-mast, and the foot on the lower gaff. [Fr. gaffe.]

Gaff, gaf, n. (slang) a low theatre: a fair.

Gaff, gaf, v.i. (slang) to gamble.—ns. '; '.

Gaffer, gaf′ėr, n. originally a word of respect applied to an old man, now familiar: the foreman of a squad of workmen. [Corr. of godfather, as gammer of godmother.]

Gag, gag, v.t. to forcibly stop the mouth: to silence: to choke up: to introduce gag into a piece:—pr.p. pa.p. gagged.—n. something thrust into the mouth or put over it to enforce silence, or distend the jaws during an operation: the closure applied in a debate: a mouthful which produces nausea, the fat of fresh beef boiled: (slang) an actor's interpolation: a joke or hoax.—n. , one who gags. [Prob. imitative of sound made in choking.]

Gag, gag, v.t. (slang) to deceive.—v.i. to practise imposture.—n. a made-up story, lie: (U.S.) a laughing-stock.

Gage, gāj, n. a pledge: something thrown down as a challenge, as a glove.—v.t. to bind by pledge or security: offer as a guarantee: to stake, wager. [O. Fr. guage, from Teut. See Wed.]

Gage. See Gauge.

Gage, gāj, n. name applied to several varieties of plum. [See Greengage.]

Gaggle, gag′l, n. a flock of geese, or of women.—v.i. to cackle.—n. , cackling.—adj. garrulous.

Gag-tooth, gag′-tōōth, n. a projecting tooth.—adj. .

Gaiety, Gaily. See Gay.

Gaikwar, gīk′war, n. name of the ruler of Baroda in India. [Marathi gāe—Sans. go, a cow, bull.]

Gain, gān, v.t. to obtain by effort: to earn: to be successful in: to draw to one's own party, bribe: to reach: to make advance: (N. T.) to escape.—n. that which is gained: profit.—adj. '.—n. '.—adj. '.—adv. '.—n. '.—n.pl. '.—adj. '.—n. '.—Gain ground (see Ground); Gain upon, to overtake by degrees. [O. Fr. gain, gaain, gaigner, gaaignier, from Teut., as in weidenen, to graze, to seek forage, weida, pasture.]

Gain, gān, adj. (prov.) near, straight. [Ice. gegn.]

Gaingiving, gān′giv-ing, n. (Shak.) misgiving.

Gainly, gān′li, adj. agile, handsome. See Ungainly.

Gainsay, gān′sā, v.t. to contradict: to deny: to dispute.—ns. ' (B.), an opposer; '.—v.t.  (Spens.), to strive against. [A.S. gegn, against, and say.]

Gainst, a poetic abbreviation of against.

Gair, gār, n. (Scot.) gore.

Gairfowl. See Garefowl.

Gairish. See Garish.

Gait, gāt, n. way or manner of walking, step, pace.—adj. , having a particular gait. [A special use of gate.]

Gait, gāt, n. (prov.) a sheaf of corn: charge for pasturage.

Gaiter, gāt′ėr, n. a covering of cloth, &c., for the ankle, fitting down upon the shoe. [Fr. guêtre, guietre.]

Gal, gal, n. (prov.) a girl.

Gala, gā′la, n. festivity.—n. , gay costume for a gala-day. [Fr. gala, show—It. gala, finery.]

Galactic, ga-lak′tik, adj. pertaining to or obtained from milk: (astron.) pertaining to the Milky-Way.—ns. ', a medicine which promotes the secretion of milk; ', a morbid flow or deficiency of milk; ', lactose; ', an instrument for finding the quality of milk by indicating its specific gravity; ', one who lives on milk.—adjs. ', living on milk; ', milk-carrying; ', milk-producing.—n. , a too abundant flow of milk. [Gr. gala, galaktos, milk.]

Galage, an obs. form of galosh.

Galago, ga-lā′go, n. a genus of large-eared, long-tailed African lemurs, arboreal and nocturnal in habit, living on fruit and insects.

Galangal. See Galingale.

Galantine, gal′an-tīn, n. a dish of poultry or veal, boned, tied up tight, cooked, and served cold. [Fr.,—Low L. galatina for gelatina, jelly. See Gelatine.]

Galanty show, gal-an′ti shō, n. a shadow pantomime produced by throwing shadows of miniature figures on a wall or screen. [Prob. It. galanti, pl. of galante. See Gallant.]

Galatian, ga-lā′shi-an, adj. pertaining to Galatia in Asia Minor—colonised by Gauls in the 3d century B.C.—n. a native of Galatia.

Galaxy, gal′ak-si, n. the Milky-Way, or the luminous band of stars stretching across the heavens: any splendid assemblage. [Through Fr. and L., from Gr. galaxias—gala, milk.]

Galbanum, gal′ban-um, n. a resinous juice obtained from an Eastern plant, used in medicine and in the arts, and by the Jews in the preparation of the sacred incense.—Also . [L.,—Gr. chalbanē, prob. an Eastern word.]

Gale, gāl, n. a strong wind between a stiff breeze and a hurricane: (coll.) a state of noisy excitement. [Prob. elliptical for gale (or gall) wind. Mr Bradley disfavours the Scand. ety., which connects with Dan. gal, mad, Norw. galen, raging.]

Gale, gāl, n. a shrub growing in marshy spots, usually called Sweet-gale. [Prob. A.S. gagel; cf. Ger. gagel, a myrtle-bush.]

Gale, gāl, n. a periodic payment of rent. [Gavel.]

Galeate, -d, gā′le-āt, -ed, adj. (bot., ornith., and anat.) helmeted. [L. galeātus—galea, a helmet.]

Galena, gā-lē′na, n. a mineral which is essentially a sulphide of lead—also '.—adjs. ', ', '. [L. galena, lead-ore.]

Galenic, -al, gā-len′ik, -al, adj. pertaining to Galen, the 2d-cent. Greek physician, or to his methods and theories.—ns. '; '.

Galeopithecus, gā-li-o-pi-thē′kus, n. a flying lemur.—adjs. ', '.

Galilean, gal-i-lē′an, adj. of or pertaining to Galileo, a great Italian mathematician (1564-1642).—Galilean law, the law of the uniform acceleration of falling bodies; Galilean telescope, a telescope with a concave lens for its eye-piece.

Galilean, gal-i-lē′an, adj. of or pertaining to Galilee, one of the Roman divisions of Palestine.—n. a native of Galilee: a Christian.

Galilee, gal′i-lē, n. (archit.) a porch or chapel at the west end of some abbey churches, in which penitents were placed, and where ecclesiastics met women who had business with them.—Galilee porch, a galilee which has direct communication with the exterior. [Prob. suggested from Mark, xvi. 7, 'He goeth before you into Galilee.']

Galimatias, gal-i-mā′shi-as, n. nonsense, gibberish: any confused mixture of unlike things. [Fr.]

Galingale, gal′in-gāl, n. the aromatic root of certain E. Indian plants of genera Alpinia and Kæmpferia, formerly much used in medicine and cookery: the tuber of Cyperus longus, of ancient medicinal repute: also the whole plant.—Also . [O. Fr. galingal—Ar. khalanjān—Chin. ko-liang-kiang—Ko, a Chinese province, liang, mild, and kiang, ginger.]

Galiongee, gal-yon-jē′, n. a Turkish sailor. [Turk. qālyūnjī, deriv. of qālyūn—It. galeone, galleon.]

Galipot, gal′i-pot, n. the white resin which exudes from pine, yielding, when refined, white, yellow, or Burgundy pitch. [Fr.]

Gall, gawl, n. the greenish-yellow fluid secreted from the liver, called bile: bitterness: malignity.—ns. ', a pear-shaped bag lying on the under side of the liver, a reservoir for the bile; ', a hard concretion in the gall-bladder or biliary ducts.—Gall and wormwood, anything extremely disagreeable and annoying.—In the gall of bitterness, in a state of extreme hostility to God (Acts, viii. 23). [A.S. gealla, gall; cf. Ger. galle, Gr. cholē, L. fel.]

Gall, gawl, n. a light nut-like ball which certain insects produce on the oak-tree, used in dyeing—also '.—v.t. to fret or hurt the skin by rubbing: to annoy: to enrage.—v.i. (Shak.) to act in a galling manner.—ns. ', a salt of gallic acid; ', an insect which occasions gall on plants by puncturing.—adj. ', irritating.—adv. .—Gallic acid, a crystalline substance obtained from gall-nuts, and used in making ink. [Fr. galle—L. galla, oak-apple.]

Gallant, gal′ant, adj. brave: noble: (rare) gay, splendid, magnificent: courteous or attentive to ladies: amorous, erotic (sometimes —n. a gay, dashing person: a man of fashion: suitor, seducer.—adv. '.—ns. '; , bravery: intrepidity: attention or devotion to ladies, often in a bad sense, amorous intrigue: (Shak.) gallants collectively. [Fr. galant—O. Fr. gale, a merrymaking; prob. Teut.]

Galleass, gal′e-as, n. (Shak.) a vessel of the same construction as a galley, but larger and heavier.—Also . [O. Fr. galeace—It. galeaza, augmented from, galea, galley.]

Galleon, gal′i-un, n. a large Spanish vessel with lofty stem and stern, mostly used formerly for carrying treasure. [Sp. galeon. Cf. Galley.]

Gallery, gal′ėr-i, n. a balcony surrounded by rails: a long passage: the upper floor of seats in a church or theatre: the persons occupying the gallery at a theatre: a room for the exhibition of works of art: (fort.) a covered passage cut through the earth or masonry: a level or drive in a mine.—adj. , furnished with, or arranged like, a gallery.—Play to the gallery, to play so as to win the applause of the least intelligent amongst the spectators. [O. Fr. galerie (It. galleria).]

Galley, gal′i, n. a long, low-built ship with one deck, propelled by oars: a state barge: the captain's boat on a war-ship: the place where the cooking is done on board ship: a kind of boat attached to a ship-of-war: (print.) a flat oblong tray in which the compositor places the type he has set up.—ns. ', an impression taken from type on a galley; ', one condemned for crime to work like a slave at the oar of a galley. [O. Fr. galie—Low L. galea.]

Galliambic, gal-i-am′bik, adj. constituting a galliambus, a verse consisting of four Ionics a minore, with variations and substitutions. [Used by the Galli, priests of the Phrygian goddess Cybele.]

Galliard, gal′yard, adj. (arch.) brisk, lively.—n. a spirited dance for two, common in the 16th and 17th centuries: a gay fellow.—n. , gaiety: a merry trick. [O. Fr. gaillard; cf. Sp. gallardo.]

Gallic, gal′ik, adj. pertaining to Gaul or France.—adj. ', of or pertaining to France: esp. pertaining to the Roman Catholic Church in France.—n. one holding Gallican doctrines.—n. ', the spirit of nationalism within the French Church—as opposed to Ultramontanism, or the absolute subjection of everything to the personal authority of the pope.—adv. Gallice in French.—n. ', the use in English or any other language of a word or idiom peculiar to the French.—vs.t. ', , to make French in opinions, habits, &c. [L. Gallicus—Gallia, Gaul.]

Galligaskins, gal-i-gas′kinz, n.pl. large open hose or trousers: leggings worn by sportsmen. [A corr. of O. Fr. garguesque—It. Grechesco, Greekish—L. Græcus, Greek.]

Gallimaufry, gal-i-maw′fri, n. (Shak.) any inconsistent or absurd medley: a medley of persons. [O. Fr. galimafrée, a ragout, hash.]

Gallinaceous, gal-in-ā′shus, adj. pertaining to the order of birds to which the domestic fowl, pheasant, &c. belong. [L. gallina, a hen—gallus, a cock.]

Gallinule, gal′i-nūl, n. a genus of aquatic birds closely allied to the coots, of which the common water-hen is a species. [L. gallinula, dim. of gallina, a hen.]

Gallio, gal′i-o, n. a careless, easy-going man who keeps himself free from trouble and responsibility. [From the proconsul of Achaia in 53 A.D., Junius Annæus Gallio, who refused to listen to the Jewish clamour against Paul (Acts, xviii. 12-17).]

Galliot, Galiot, gal′i-ot, n. a small galley: an old Dutch cargo-boat, also a bomb-ketch. [Fr. galiote—Low L. galea, galley.]

Gallipot, gal′i-pot, n. a small glazed pot for containing medicine. [Prob. pottery such as was brought in galleys; not likely to be the Old Dut. gleipot, a glazed pot.]

Gallium, gal′i-um, n. a rare malleable metal, grayish-white, brilliant in lustre.

Gallivant, gal-i-vant′, v.i. to spend time frivolously, esp. in flirting. [Perh. a variation of gallant.]

Gallivat, gal′i-vat, n. a large two-masted Malay boat.

Galliwasp, gal′i-wasp, n. a West Indian lizard.

Gallize, gal′īz, v.t. to treat unfermented grape-juice with water and sugar, so as to increase the quantity of wine produced. [From Dr L. Gall of Treves.]

Galloglass, gal′lo-glas, n. a soldier or armed retainer of a chief in ancient Ireland and other Celtic countries.—Also . [Ir. gallóglách—Ir. gall, foreign, óglách, youth.]

Gallomania, gal-o-mā′ni-a, n. a mania for French ways.

Gallon, gal′un, n. the standard measure of capacity=4 quarts. [O. Fr. galun, galon, jalon; app. cog. with Fr. jale, a bowl.]

Galloon, ga-lōōn′, n. a kind of lace: a narrow ribbon made of silk or worsted, or of both.—adj. , adorned with galloon. [Fr. galon, galonner; prob. cog. with gallant.]

Gallop, gal′up, v.i. to move by leaps, as a horse: to ride a galloping horse: to move very fast.—v.t. to cause to gallop.—n. the pace at which a horse runs when the forefeet are lifted together and the hindfeet together: a ride at a gallop.—n. ', one who, or that which, gallops.—part. and adj. ', proceeding at a gallop: (fig.) advancing rapidly, as in the phrase, 'a galloping consumption.'—Canterbury gallop, a moderate gallop of a horse (see Canter). [O. Fr. galop, galoper; prob. Teut., related to leap. There is a Flemish and a Middle High Ger. walop (n.). The root is seen in Old Fries. walla, to boil; cf. Well (1).]

Gallopade, gal-up-ād′, n. a quick kind of dance—then, the music appropriate to it: a sidewise gallop.—v.i. to move briskly: to perform a gallopade. [Fr.]

Gallovidian, gal-o-vid′yan, adj. belonging to Galloway.—n. a native thereof.

Gallow, gal′lō, v.t. (Shak.) to frighten or terrify. [A.S. a-gǽlwian, to astonish.]

Galloway, gal′o-wā, n. a small strong horse, 13-15 hands high, originally from Galloway in Scotland: a breed of large black hornless cattle.

Gallows, gal′us, n. a wooden frame on which criminals are executed by hanging—a pl. used as a sing., and having (Shak.) the double pl. 'gallowses' (used also coll. originally for a pair of braces for supporting the trousers): (Shak.) a wretch who deserves the gallows: any contrivance with posts and cross-beam for suspending objects: a rest for the tympan of a hand printing-press: the main frame of a beam-engine.—ns. ', a person who deserves hanging; ', a frame fixed in a ship's deck to support spare spars.—adj. ', free from danger of hanging.—n. ' (slang), recklessness.—adj. ', ready for the gallows.—n. ', a tree used as a gallows.—Cheat the gallows, to escape hanging though deserving it. [M. E. galwes (pl.)—A.S. galga; Ger. galgen.]

Gally, gal′i, v.i. (prov.) to scare, daze.—ns. ', ', , a scarecrow.

Galoot, ga-lōōt′, n. (U.S.) a recruit, a clumsy fellow.

Galop, gal′op, n. a lively round dance of German origin: music for such a dance. [Fr.; cf. Gallop.]

Galopin, gal′o-pin, n. (Scot.) a kitchen boy. [O. Fr.,—galoper, to gallop.]

Galore, ga-lōr′, adv. in abundance, plentifully.—n. abundance. [Ir. go leór, sufficiently—go, an adverbialising particle, leór, sufficient.]

Galosh, ga-losh′, n. a shoe or slipper worn over another in wet weather—also ', '. [Fr. galoche—Gr. kalopodion, dim. of kalopous, a shoemaker's last—kālon, wood, pous, the foot.]

Galravage. See Gilravage.

Galt. See Gault.

Galumph, gal-umf′, v.i. to march along boundingly and exultingly. [A coinage of Lewis Carroll.]

Galvanism, gal′van-izm, n. a branch of the science of electricity which treats of electric currents produced by chemical agents.—adj. ', belonging to or exhibiting galvanism.—n. '.—v.t. ', to subject to the action of a galvanic current: to confer a false vitality upon.—ns. ', '; ', a printing-surface resembling an engraved copper-plate, produced by an electrotype process from a drawing made with viscid ink on a silvered plate: an impression taken from such a plate; '; ', a student of galvanology; ', the science of galvanic phenomena; ', an instrument for measuring the strength of galvanic currents; '.—adj. '.—ns. ', electrotypy; ', an instrument for detecting the existence and direction of an electric current.—Galvanic battery, a series of zinc or copper plates susceptible of galvanic action; Galvanised iron, the name given to iron coated with zinc to prevent rusting. [From Luigi Galvani, of Bologna, the discoverer (1737-98).]

Galwegian, gal-wē′ji-an, adj. belonging to Galloway.—n. a native thereof.—Also .

Gam, gam, v.t. and v.i. to make a call on, to exchange courtesies with: to gather in a flock, as whales.—n. a school or herd of whales. [Prob. a corr. of jam.]

Gam, gam, n. (Scot.) the mouth:—pl. tusks.

Gam, gam, n. (slang) a leg.

Gama-grass, gä′ma-gräs, n. a grass with very large culms, 4 to 7 feet high, grown in Mexico.

Gamash, gam-ash′, n. a kind of leggings or gaiters.

Gamb, gamb, n. a leg or shank: (her.) a beast's whole foreleg= (anat.), the metacarpus or metatarsus of ruminants, &c.: short for viol da gamba. [Low L. gamba, a leg. See Gambol.]

Gambado, gam-bā′do, n. a leather covering for the legs to defend them from mud in riding: boots affixed to the saddle in place of stirrups. [It. gamba, the leg.]

Gambado, gam-bā′do, n. a bound or spring of a horse: a fantastic movement, a caper. [Sp. gambada; cf. Gambol.]

Gambeson, gam′be-son, n. an ancient coat for defence, worn under the habergeon, of leather, or of cloth stuffed and quilted.—Also . [O. Fr.—Low L. gambesōn-em; prob. Teut., as in wambâ, the belly.]

Gambet, gam′bet, n. the redshank.

Gambier, gam′bēr, n. an astringent substance prepared from the leaves of a shrub of the East Indies, and largely used in tanning and dyeing.—Also . [Malayan.]

Gambist, gam′bist, n. a player on the gamba or viol da gamba.

Gambit, gam′bit, n. a mode of opening a game of chess by sacrificing a pawn early in the game for the purpose of making a powerful attack. [It. gambetto, a tripping up—gamba, leg.]

Gamble, gam′bl, v.i. to play for money in games of chance or skill: to engage in wild financial speculations.—v.t. to squander away.—n. a gambling transaction.—ns. ', one who gambles, esp. who makes it his business; ', a house kept for the accommodation of people who play at games of hazard for money. [For gamm-le or gam-le, a freq. which has ousted M. E. gamenen—A.S. gamenian, to play at games—gamen, a game.]

Gamboge, gam-bōj′, or gam-bōōj′, n. a yellow gum-resin used as a pigment and in medicine.—adjs. ', '. [From Cambodia, in Asia, whence brought about 1600.]

Gambol, gam′bol, v.i. to leap, skip: to frisk in sport:—pr.p. pa.p. —n. a skipping: playfulness. [Formerly gambold—O. Fr. gambade—It. gambata, a kick—Low L. gamba, leg.]

Gambrel, gam′brel, n. the hock of a horse: a crooked stick used by butchers for suspending a carcass while dressing it.—Gambrel roof, a curved or hipped roof. [O. Fr. gamberel; cf. Fr. gambier, a hooked stick; prob. Celt. cam, crooked.]

Gambroon, gam-brōōn′, n. a twilled cloth of worsted and cotton, or linen. [Prob. Gambroon in Persia.]

Game, gām, n. sport of any kind: an exercise or contest for recreation or amusement, esp. athletic contests: the stake in a game: the manner of playing a game: the requisite number of points to be gained to win a game: jest, sport, trick, artifice: any object of pursuit or desire: (Shak.) gallantry: the spoil of the chase: wild animals protected by law and hunted by sportsmen, the flesh of such—hares, pheasants, partridges, grouse, blackcock.—adj. of or belonging to such animals as are hunted as game: plucky, courageous: (slang) having the spirit to do something.—v.i. to gamble.—ns. ', a bag for holding a sportsman's game, also the whole amount of game taken at one time; ', a cock trained to fight; ', one who has the care of game.—n.pl. ', laws relating to the protection of certain animals called game.—adv. Gamely.—ns. '; ', one who preserves game on his property for his own sport or profit.—adj. ', playful.—ns. ', sportiveness: merriment; ', one viciously addicted to gambling: a gambler; ', one who rents the privilege of shooting or fishing over a particular estate or district; ', gambling; ', a gambling-house, a hell; ', a table used for gambling.—adj. ', having the flavour of dead game kept till tainted: (coll.) spirited, plucky.—Big game, the larger animals hunted; Die game, to keep up courage to the last; Make a game of, to play with real energy or skill; Make game of, to make sport of, to ridicule; Red game, the Scotch ptarmigan; Round game, a game, as at cards, in which the number of players is not fixed; The game is not worth the candle (see Candle); The game is up, the game is started: the scheme has failed. [A.S. gamen, play; Ice. gaman, Dan. gammen.]

Game, gām, adj. (slang) crooked, lame. [Most prob. not the Celt. cam, crooked.]

Gamic, gam′ik, adj. having a sexual character, of an ovum—opp. to Agamic.—ns. Gamete a sexual protoplasmic body; ', sexual reproduction.—adjs. ' (bot.), having the petals united at the base; ', having cohering perianth leaves; ', having the sepals united. [Gr. gamos, marriage.]

Gamin, gam′in, n. a street Arab, a precocious and mischievous imp of the pavement. [Fr.]

Gamma, gam′a, n. the third letter of the Greek alphabet.—ns. ', ' (see Fylfot).

Gammer, gam′ėr, n. an old woman—the correlative of gaffer (q.v.).

Gammerstang, gam′er-stang, n. (prov.) a tall, awkward person, esp. a woman: a wanton girl.

Gammock, gam′ok, n. (prov.) a frolic, fun.—v.i. to frolic, to lark.

Gammon, gam′un, n. (mostly coll.) a hoax: nonsense, humbug.—v.t. to hoax, impose upon.—ns. '; '. [A.S. gamen, a game.]

Gammon, gam′un, n. the preserved thigh of a hog. [O. Fr. gambon—gambe, a leg.]

Gammon, gam′un, n. (naut.) the lashing of the bowsprit.—v.t. to lash the bowsprit with ropes.

Gamp, gamp, n. (slang) a large, clumsy, or untidily tied up umbrella.—adj. , bulging. [So called from Mrs Sarah Gamp, a tippling monthly nurse in Dickens's Martin Chuzzlewit.]

Gamut, gam′ut, n. the musical scale: the whole extent of a thing. [So called from the Gr. gamma, which marked the last of the series of notes in the musical notation of Guido Aretinus, and L. ut, the beginning of an old hymn to St John ('Ut queant laxis') used in singing the scale.]

Ganch, ganch, v.t. to impale.—Also Gaunch. [O. Fr. gancher—It. gancio, a hook.]

Gander, gan′dėr, n. the male of the goose: a simpleton: (U.S.) a man living apart from his wife.—ns. ', the place of abode of the hypothetical Jedediah Cleishbotham, editor of the Tales of my Landlord; '; , a social gathering of men only. [A.S. gandra, from ganra, with inserted d; Dut. and Low Ger. gander.]

Ganesa, ga-nē′sa, n. the elephant-headed Hindu god of foresight and prudence.

Gang, gang, n. a number of persons or animals associated for a certain purpose, usually in a bad sense: a number of labourers working together during the same hours: the range of pasture allowed to cattle: a set of tools, &c., used together for any kind of work.—ns. ', ', the foreman of a squad, as of plate-layers. [A.S. gang (Dan. gang, Ger. gang, a going), gangan, to go.]

Gang, gang, v.i. (Scot.) to go.—n.pl. ', the three days preceding Ascension Day or Holy Thursday.—n. ', a walker: a fast-going horse. [A.S. gangan, to go.]

Ganglion, gang′gli-on, n. a tumour in the sheath of a tendon: an enlargement in the course of a nerve: any special centre of nervous action:—pl. ', '.—adjs. ', ', ', pertaining to a ganglion; ', ', provided with a ganglion or ganglia; ', ', having the form of a ganglion; ', composed of ganglia.—n.  (anat.), a nerve-cell with nucleus and nucleones.—Basal ganglia, ganglia situated at the bottom of the cerebrum. [Gr.]

Gangrel, gang′rel, n. and adj. a vagrant. [From gang—A.S. gangan, to go, walk.]

Gangrene, gang′grēn, n. loss of vitality in some part of the body: the first stage in mortification.—v.t. to mortify.—v.i. to become putrid.—v.i. ', to become mortified.—adjs. ', becoming mortified; , mortified. [L. gangræna—Gr. gangraina, grainein, to gnaw.]

Gang-saw, gang-saw, n. an arrangement of saws set in one frame.

Gangue, Gang, gang, n. in mining, the stony matrix in which metallic ores occur. [Fr.,—Ger. gang, a vein.]

Gangway, gang′wā, n. a passage or way by which to go into or out of any place, esp. a ship: a way between rows of seats, esp. the cross-passage in the House of Commons, about half-way down the House, giving access to the rear-benches. The members 'above the gangway' are the ministers and ex-ministers, with their more immediate supporters. [A.S. gangweg; cf. gang and way.]

Ganister, Gannister, gan′is-ter, n. a hard, close-grained siliceous stone, which often forms the stratum that underlies a coal-seam.

Ganja, gan′ja, n. an intoxicating preparation of Indian hemp.

Gannet, gan′et, n. a web-footed fowl found in the northern seas, the best-known of which is the solan goose. [A.S. ganot, a sea-fowl; Dut. gent.]

Ganoid, gän′oid, adj. belonging to an order of fishes once very large, but now decadent, including only seven genera (sturgeons, &c.).—adj. . [Gr. ganos, brightness, eidos, appearance.]

Gant, gänt, v.i. (Scot.) to yawn—also Gaunt.—n. a yawn.

Gantlet, gant′let, n. a glove. [Same as Gauntlet.]

Gantlet, gant′let, Gantlope, n. a punishment consisting of driving a criminal through a lane formed by two files of men, who each strike him as he passes.—Run the gantlet, to undergo the punishment of the gantlet: to be exposed to unpleasant remarks or treatment. [Confused with gauntlet, but from Sw. gatlopp—gata (Eng. gate), a street, line of soldiers, lopp (Eng. leap), course.]

Gantry, gan′tri, n. a stand for barrels: a platform for a travelling-crane, &c.—Also .

Ganymede, gan′i-mēd, n. a cup-bearer, pot-boy, from the beautiful youth who succeeded Hebe as cup-bearer to Zeus, being carried off to Olympus by the eagle of Zeus: a catamite.

Gaol, Gaoler, old spellings of Jail, Jailer.

Gap, gap, n. an opening made by rupture or parting: a cleft: a passage: a deep ravine in a mountain-ridge: any breach of continuity.—v.t. to notch: to make a gap in.—adjs. , full of gaps; Gap-toothed, lacking some of the teeth.—Stand in the gap, to stand forward in active defence of something; Stop a gap, to repair a defect, close a breach. [M. E. gappe—Ice. gap, an opening.]

Gape, gāp, v.i. to open the mouth wide: to yawn: to stare with open mouth: to be open, like a gap.—n. act of gaping: width of the mouth when opened.—ns. '; Gapes, a disease of birds, owing to the presence of trematode worms in the windpipe, shown by their uneasy gaping.—adj. ', with mouth open in admiration.—adv. . [Ice. gapa, to open the mouth; Ger. gaffen, to stare.]

Gar, gär, Garfish, gär′fish, n. a long slender fish of the pike family, with a pointed head. [A.S. gár, a dart.]

Gar, gär, v.t. (Scot.) to cause, to compel. [Norse ger(v)a, to make (A.S. gierwan, giarwian), Sw. göra, Dan. gjöre; cf. Yare.]

Garancine, gar′an-sin, n. a manufactured product of madder, used as a dye. [Fr.,—garance, madder.]

Garb, gärb, n. fashion of dress: external appearance.—v.t. to clothe, array. [O. Fr. garbe—It. garbo, grace; of Teut. origin.]

Garb, gärb, n. a sheaf of grain, frequently used in heraldry. [O. Fr. garbe—Teut., as in Old High Ger. garba, a handful (Ger. garbe, Dut. garf).]

Garbage, gär′bāj, n. refuse, as the bowels of an animal: any worthless matter. [Of doubtful origin; prob. O. Fr. garbe, a sheaf; not conn. with garble.]

Garble, gär′bl, v.t. to select what may serve our own purpose, in a bad sense: to mutilate, corrupt, or falsify.—n. , one who selects. [Most prob. It. garbellare—Ar. ghirbál, a sieve.]

Garboard-strake, gär′bōrd-strāk, n. the first range of planks laid on a ship's bottom next the keel. [Dut. gaarboord.]

Garboil, gär′boil, n. (Shak.) disorder, uproar. [O. Fr. garbouil—It. garbuglio, conn. with L. bullīre, to boil.]

Garçon, gär-song′, n. a boy: a waiter. [Fr.]

Gardant, gärd′ant, adj. (her.) said of an animal represented as full-faced and looking forward. [Fr., pr.p. of garder, to look.]

Garden, gär′dn, n. a piece of ground on which flowers, &c., are cultivated: a pleasant spot.—ns. '; ', a bell-glass for covering plants; ', the act of laying out and cultivating gardens; ', a party held on the lawn or in the garden of a private house.—Garden of Eden (see Eden); Hanging garden, a garden formed in terraces rising one above another—e.g. those of Nebuchadnezzar at Babylon; Market gardener, a gardener who raises vegetables, fruits, &c. for sale; Philosophers of the garden, followers of Epicurus who taught in a garden. [O. Fr. gardin (Fr. jardin); from Teut.]

Gardenia, gär-dē′ni-a, n. a genus of Cinchonaceæ, tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs, with beautiful and fragrant flowers. [Named from the American botanist, Dr Alex. Garden (died 1791).]

Gardyloo, gär′di-lōō, n. the old warning cry of housewives in Edinburgh before throwing their slops out of the window into the street. [Pseudo-Fr. gare de l'eau—should be gare l'eau, 'beware of the water.']

Gare, gār, adj. (Scot.) greedy, miserly.

Garefowl, gār′fowl, n. the great auk, razor-billed auk. [Ice. geir-fugl.]

Garfish. See Gar (1).

Gargantuan, gär-gan′tū-an, adj. like Gargantua—i.e. enormous, prodigious.—ns. '; '. [From Gargantua, the hero of Rabelais, described as a giant of vast appetite.]

Gargarism, gär′ga-rizm, n. a gargle.—v.t. .

Garget, gar′get, n. a swelling in the throat of cattle and pigs: inflammation of a cow's udder.—Also .

Gargle, gär′gl, v.t. to wash the throat, preventing the liquid from going down by expelling air against it.—n. a preparation for washing the throat. [O. Fr. gargouiller—gargouille, the throat.]



Gargoyle, gär′goil, n. a projecting spout, conveying the water from the roof-gutters of buildings, often representing human or other figures. [O. Fr. gargouille—L. gurgulio, throat.]

Garibaldi, gar-i-bal′di, n. a woman's loose blouse, an imitation of the red shirts worn by the followers of the Italian patriot Garibaldi (1807-1882).

Garish, Gairish, gār′ish, adj. showy: gaudy.—adv. '.—n. '. [Earlier gaurish, gawrish—gaure, to stare, perh. a freq. of gaw, to stare, cf. Ice. gá, to heed.]

Garland, gär′land, n. a wreath of flowers or leaves: a name for a book of extracts in prose or poetry: (Shak.) the thing most prized.—v.t. to deck with a garland.—n. ', a decoration of garlands.—adj. '.—n. , garlands collectively.- garland, a crown of oak-leaves bestowed on a Roman soldier who saved a fellow-citizen's life in battle. [O. Fr. garlande; prob. Old High Ger. wiara, fine ornament.]

Garlick, gär′lik, n. a bulbous-rooted plant of genus Allium, having a pungent taste and very strong smell.—adj. , like garlick. [A.S. gárléac—gár, a spear, léac, a leek.]

Garment, gär′ment, n. any article of clothing, as a coat or gown.—v.t. to clothe with a garment.—adjs. '; '.—n. , clothing. [O. Fr. garniment—garnir, to furnish.]

Garner, gär′nėr, n. a granary or place where grain is stored up: a store of anything—e.g. experience.—v.t. to store as in a garner.—v.i. (rare) to accumulate.—n. , a storehouse. [O. Fr. gernier (Fr. grenier)—L. granarium, a granary.]

Garnet, gär′net, n. a precious stone belonging to a group of minerals crystallising in the cubical system. [O. Fr. grenat—Low L. granatum, pomegranate; or Low L. granum, grain, cochineal, red dye.]

Garnish, gär′nish, v.t. to adorn: to furnish: to surround with ornaments, as a dish.—n. entrance-money: something placed round a principal dish at table, whether for embellishment or relish: a gift of money, esp. that formerly paid by a prisoner to his fellow-prisoners on his first admission.—ns. ', a person warned not to pay money owed to another, because the latter is indebted to the garnisher who gives the warning (v.t. to attach a debtor's money in this way); '; ', one who garnishes; ', ', ', that which garnishes or embellishes: ornament: apparel: trimming; , adornment. [O. Fr. garniss-, stem of garnir, to furnish, old form warnir, from a Teut. root seen in A.S. warnian, Ger. warnen, Eng. warn.]

Garret, gar′et, n. (Shak.) a watch-tower: a room next the roof of a house.—p.adj. ', provided with garrets: lodged in a garret.—ns. ', one who lives in a garret: a poor author; , a cabinet-maker, locksmith, &c., working on his own account for the dealers. [O. Fr. garite, a place of safety, guarir, warir, to preserve (Fr. guérir)—Teut., Old High Ger. warjan, to defend.]

Garrison, gar′i-sn, n. a supply of soldiers for guarding a fortress: a fortified place.—v.t. to furnish a fortress with troops: to defend by fortresses manned with troops.—Garrison town, a town in which a garrison is stationed. [O. Fr. garison—garir, guerir, to furnish—Teut., Old High Ger. warjan, to defend.]

Garron, gar′on, n. a small horse.—Also . [Ir.]

Garrot, gar′ot, n. a name applied to various ducks. [Fr.]

Garrot, gar′ot, n. (surg.) a tourniquet. [Fr.]

Garrotte, Garotte, gar-rot′, n. a Spanish mode of strangling criminals.—v.t. to strangle by a brass collar tightened by a screw, whose point enters the spinal marrow: to suddenly render insensible by semi-strangulation, and then to rob:—pr.p.  pa.p.  —ns. ', ', one who garrottes; ', '. [Sp. garrote; cf. Fr. garrot, a stick.]

Garrulous, gar′ū-lus, adj. talkative.—ns. ', ', talkativeness: loquacity.—adv. . [L. garrulus—garrīre, to chatter.]

Garter, gär′tėr, n. a band used to tie the stocking to the leg: the badge of the highest order of knighthood in Great Britain, called the Order of the Garter.—v.t. to bind with a garter.—Garter king-of-arms, the chief herald of the Order of the Garter. [O. Fr. gartier (Fr. jarretière)—O. Fr. garet (Fr. jarret), the ham of the leg, prob. Celt. as Bret. gar, the shank of the leg.]

Garth, gärth, n. an enclosure or yard: a garden: a weir in a river for catching fish. [Ice. garðr, a court; cf. A.S. geard; Ger. garten, yard.]

Garuda, gär′ōō-da, n. a Hindu demigod, with the body and legs of a man, the head and wings of a bird, emblem of strength and speed. [Sans.]

Garvie, gär′vi, n. (Scot.) a sprat.—Also . [Gael. garbhag.]

Gas, gas, n. a vaporous substance not condensed into a liquid at ordinary terrestrial temperatures and pressures—esp. that obtained from coal, used in lighting houses: (coll.) frothy talk:—pl. '.—v.t. to supply with gas: (U.S.) to impose on by talking gas.—v.i. to vapour, talk boastfully.—ns. ', ', a hanging frame with branches for gas-jets, formed on false analogy from chandelier; ', a bag for holding gas: a boastful, talkative person; ', a pipe, mostly curved, projecting from the wall of a room, used for illuminating purposes; ', a piece of metal fitted to the end of a gas-pipe, with one or more small holes so arranged as to spread out the flame; ', any coal suitable for making illuminating gas; ', an apparatus for freeing coal-gas from tar; ', '.—adj. Gaseous —ns. ', an engine in which motion is communicated to the piston by the alternate admission and condensation of gas in a closed cylinder; ', one who fits up the pipes and brackets for gas-lighting; ', a bracket or chandelier for gas; ', a furnace of which the fuel is gas; ', a large vessel for storing gas; ', the process of converting into gas.—v.t. ', to convert into gas.—ns. ', a gas-burner; ', a lamp lighted by gas; ', one of the principal underground pipes conveying gas from the works to the places where it is consumed; ', a man employed in the manufacture of gas: the man who controls the lights of the stage; ', an instrument for measuring the quantity of gas consumed at a particular place in a given time; ' (same as Gazogene); ', rectified petroleum; ', an instrument for measuring gas: a place for holding gas.—adjs. ', '.—ns. ', a pipe for conveying gas; ', idle talking; ', an apparatus in which coal-gas is used for heating and cooking purposes.—adj. ', full of gas, gaseous: (slang) given to vain and boastful talk.—ns. ', a reservoir for coal-gas; ', coal-tar.—adj. ', sufficiently close to prevent the escape of gas.—ns. ', water through which coal-gas has been passed; ', an establishment where illuminating gas is manufactured. [A word invented by the Dutch chemist J. B. Van Helmont (1577-1644)—the form suggested by Gr. chaos.]

Gasconade, gas-ko-nād′, n. boasting talk.—ns. ', a native of Gascony; '. [Fr.,—Gascon, from their proverbial boastfulness.]

Gash, gash, v.t. to make a deep cut into anything, esp. into flesh.—n. a deep, open wound. [Formerly garse—O. Fr. garser, pierce with a lancet—Low L. garsa. Perh. corrupted from Gr. charassein, to cut.]

Gash, gash, adj. (Scot.) shrewd: talkative: trim.—v.i. to tattle. [Prob. a corr. of sagacious.]

Gash, gash, adj. (Scot.) ghastly, hideous—also ', '.—n. '.—adv. '. [From ghastful, through association with gash.]

Gasket, gas′ket, n. (naut.) a canvas band used to bind the sails to the yards when furled: a strip of tow, &c., for packing a piston, &c.—Also . [Cf. Fr. garcette, It. gaschetta; ety. dub.]

Gaskins, gas′kinz, n. (Shak.). See Galligaskins.

Gasp, gasp, v.i. to gape in order to catch breath: to desire eagerly.—n. the act of opening the mouth to catch the breath.—pr.p. and adj. ', convulsive, spasmodic.—adv. '.—The last gasp, the utmost extremity. [Ice. geispa, to yawn, by metathesis from geipsa, cf. geip, idle talk.]

Gast, gast, v.t. (Shak.) to make aghast, to frighten or terrify. [A.S. gǽstan; cf. Aghast.]

Gasteropod, gas′ter-o-pod, n. one of a class of molluscs, embracing whelks, limpets, snails, &c., having in general a muscular disc under the belly, which serves them as feet—also ':—pl. '.—adj. . [Formed from Gr. gastēr, the stomach, pous, podos, a foot.]

Gastræa, gas-trē′a, n. (biol.) a hypothetic animal form assumed by Hæckel as the ancestor of all metazoic animals:—pl. '.—n. ', that embryonic form of metazoic animals which consists of a two-layered sac enclosing a central cavity and having an opening at one end:—pl. '.—adj. '.

Gastralgia, gas-tral′ji-a, n. pain in the stomach or bowels. [Gr. gastēr, the stomach, algos, pain.]

Gastric, gas′trik, adj. belonging to the stomach—also '.—ns. ', inflammation of the stomach; '.—adj. '.—n. , cookery, good eating.—Gastric fever, a bilious remittent fever; Gastric juice, the digestive liquid secreted by the glands of the stomach. [Gr. gastēr, the belly.]

Gastrocnemius, gas-trok-nē′mi-us, n. a superficial muscle of the posterior tibial region helping to extend the foot. [Gr. gastēr, stomach, knēmē, the leg.]

Gastromancy, gas′tro-man-si, n. a means of divination by ventriloquism: divination by large-bellied glasses. [Gr. gastēr, belly, manteia, soothsaying.]

Gastronome, gas′tro-nōm, n. one who pays great attention to his diet, an epicure—also ', '.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to gastronomy.—ns. ', the art or science of good eating; ', ', '; ', love of good eating; ', one skilled in matters of eating; '; '. [Gr. gastēr, belly, nomos, law—nemein, to distribute.]

Gastrostomy, gas-tros′to-mi, n. an operation performed in a case of stricture of the gullet, to introduce food into the stomach through an external opening. [Gr. gastēr, belly, stoma, mouth.]

Gastrotomy, gas-trot′o-mi, n. the operation of cutting open the belly. [Gr. gastēr, belly, tomē, a cutting—temnein, to cut.]

Gastro-vascular, gas-trō-vas′kū-lar, adj. common to the functions of digestion and circulation.

Gat, gat (B.) pa.t. of get.

Gat, gat, n. an opening between sandbanks, a strait. [Ice.]

Gate, gāt, n. a passage into a city, enclosure, or any large building: a narrow opening or defile: a frame in the entrance into any enclosure: an entrance.—v.t. to supply with a gate: at Oxford and Cambridge, to punish by requiring the offender to be within the college gates by a certain hour.—adj. ', punished with such restriction.—ns. ', the fine imposed for disobedience to such orders; ' (archit.), a building over or near the gate giving entrance to a city, abbey, college, &c.; ', ', one who watches over the opening and shutting of a gate.—adj. ', not having a gate.—ns. ', the money taken for entrance to an athletic or other exhibition, sometimes simply 'gate;' ', a tower built beside or over a gate; ', the great abdominal vein; ', the way through a gate: the gate itself: any entrance.—Gate of justice, a gate as of a city, temple, &c., where a sovereign or judge sat to dispense justice; Gates of death, a phrase expressing the near approach of death.—Break gates, at Oxford and Cambridge, to enter college after the prescribed hour; Ivory gate, in poetical imagery, the semi-transparent gate of the house of sleep, through which dreams appear distorted into pleasant and delusive shapes; Stand in the gate (B.), to occupy a position of defence. [A.S. geat, a way; Dut. gat, Ice. gat; not in Goth. and High Ger.; prob. related to get or gate.]

Gate, gāt, n. (Scot.) a way, path: manner of doing, esp. in adverbial phrases like 'this gate,' 'any gate,' 'some gate.' [Ice. gata; Da. gade, Ger. gasse.]

Gate, gāt, n. (Spens.) a goat. [A.S. gat.]

Gâteau, gat-ō′, n. cake.—Veal gateau, minced veal made up like a pudding, and boiled in a shape or mould. [Fr.]

Gather, gath′ėr, v.t. to collect: to acquire: in sewing, to plait: to learn by inference.—v.i. to assemble or muster: to increase: to suppurate.—n. a plait or fold in cloth, made by drawing the thread through (pl. that part of the dress which is gathered or drawn in).—ns. ', one who collects: a gleaner: in glass manufacturing, a workman who collects molten glass on the end of a rod preparatory to blowing; ', a crowd or assembly: a tumour or collection of matter; ', ', a coal, peat, put into a fire at night, with the hot embers gathered about it, to keep the fire alive till morning; , a summons to assemble for war.—Gather breath, to recover wind; Gather ground, to gain ground; Gather one's self together, to collect all one's powers, like one about to leap; Gather to a head, to ripen: to come into a state of preparation for action or effect; Gather way, to get headway by sail or steam so as to answer the helm. [A.S. gaderian, gæderian, (tó)gædere, together; cf. geador, together, gǽd, company.]

Gatling-gun. See Gun.

Gauche, gōsh, adj. left-handed: clumsy.—n.  (-rē), clumsiness: awkwardness. [Fr.]

Gaucho, gow′chō, n. a native of the La Plata pampas of Spanish descent, noted for marvellous horsemanship.—Less correctly .

Gaucie, Gaucy, Gawcy, Gawsy, adj. (Scot.) portly, jolly.

Gaud, gawd, n. an ornament: a piece of finery:—pl. showy ceremonies, gaieties.—v.i. (Shak.) make merry.—v.t. (Shak.) to adorn with gauds: to paint, as the cheeks.—ns. ', a rejoicing, students' merrymaking; ', finery.—adv. '.—ns. ', showiness; ', an English university feast or festival.—adj. showy: gay.—n. '. [L. gaudium, delight—gaudēre, to rejoice.]

Gauge, Gage, gāj, n. a measuring-rod: a standard of measure: estimate.—v.t. to measure the contents of any vessel: to estimate ability.—adj. ', capable of being gauged.—ns. ', an excise officer whose business is to gauge or measure the contents of casks; ', the art of measuring casks containing excisable liquors; ', an instrument for measuring the contents of casks; ', ', in railroad construction, a distance between the rails greater or less than 56½ inches, called standard gauge. [O. Fr. gauge (Fr. jauge), gauger; prob. related to jale, bowl, to galon, gallon, or to jalon, measuring stake.]

Gaul, gawl, n. a name of ancient France: an inhabitant of Gaul.—adj. . [Fr.,—L. Gallus; perh. conn. with A.S. wealh, foreign.]

Gault, gawlt, n. a series of beds of clay and marl, between the Upper and the Lower Greensand: brick earth—also Galt.—n. , one who digs gault.

Gaultheria, gal-tē′ri-a, n. a genus of evergreen aromatic plants—one species, the U.S. winter-green, yielding a valued volatile oil. [From the Canadian botanist M. Gaultier.]

Gaum, gawm, v.t. to smear: (obs.) to handle clumsily.—adj. , dauby.

Gaun, gän, Scotch for going.

Gaunt, gänt, adj. thin: of a pinched appearance: causing emaciation.—adv. '.—n. '. [Skeat compares Norw. gand, pointed stick, and Sw. prov. gank, a lean horse.]

Gauntlet, gänt′let, n. the iron glove of armour, formerly thrown down in challenge: a long glove covering the wrist.—p.adj. ', wearing a gauntlet or gauntlets.—n. ', a guard of a sword or dagger, protecting the hand very thoroughly.—Run the gauntlet (see Gantlet).—Throw down, Take up, the gauntlet, to give, to accept a challenge. [Fr. gantelet, double dim. of gant, a glove, of Scand. origin; cf. Old Sw. vante, a glove, Ice. vöttr, a glove, Dan. vante.]

Gauntry. See Gantry.

Gaup, Gawp, gawp, v.i. (prov.) to gape in astonishment.—ns. ', ', a silly person.

Gaur, gowr, n. a species of ox inhabiting some of the mountain jungles of India. [Hindustani.]

Gauze, gawz, n. a thin, transparent fabric, originally of silk, now of any fine hard-spun fibre: material slight and open like gauze.—adj. ', having gauzy wings.—n. '—adj. '—n. ' (see Wire). [Fr. gaze, dubiously referred to Gaza in Palestine.]

Gavage, ga-väzh′, n. a process of fattening poultry by forcing them to swallow food at fixed intervals: (med.) a similar method of forced feeding. [Fr. gaver—gave, the crop of a bird.]

Gave, gāv, pa.t. of give.

Gavel, gā′vel, a prov. form of gable.

Gavel, gav′el, n. an old Saxon and Welsh form of tenure by which an estate passed, on the holder's death, to all the sons equally.—v.t. to divide or distribute in this way.—ns. ', a tenure now peculiar to Kent by which the tenant at fifteen can sell the estate or devise it by will, the estate cannot escheat, and on an intestacy the lands descend from the father to all sons in equal portions; ', a tenant holding land in gavelkind. [A.S. gafol, tribute; cog. with giefan, to give.]

Gavial, gā′vi-al, n. the East Indian species of crocodile, with very long slender muzzle. [Adapted from Hindustani ghariyāl, a crocodile.]

Gavotte, ga-vot′, n. a lively kind of dance, somewhat like a country-dance, originally a dance of the Gavotes, the people of Gap, in the Upper Alps: the music for such a dance.

Gawd, gawd, n. (Shak.). Same as Gaud.

Gawk, gawk, adj. left, as in gawk-handed.—ns. ', ', quality of being gawky.—adj. , awkward, stupid, ungainly.—n. a lout. [Prob. a contr. of gaulick-, galloc-, gallish-(handed); most prob. not related to Fr. gauche.]

Gay, gā, adj. lively: bright: sportive, merry: wanton, dissipated, of loose life: showy: (prov.) spotted.—adv. (Scot.) fairly, considerably.—ns. ', ', '.—advs. ', '; ', gladsome.—Gay science, a rendering of gai saber, the Provençal name for the art of poetry. [O. Fr. gai—Old High Ger. wâhi, pretty, not gâhi, swift (Diez).]

Gayal, Gyal, gī′al, n. a kind of East Indian ox, long domesticated, dark brown in colour, with short curved horns. [Hindi.]

Gay-you, gī′-ū, n. a narrow, flat-bottomed fishing-boat, of two or three masts, used in Annam.

Gaze, gāz, v.i, to look fixedly.—n. a fixed look: the object gazed at—(Spens.) '.—adj. ' (Spens.), looking intently.—ns. ', a hound that pursues by sight rather than scent; ', one who gazes; , a person exposed to public view, generally in a bad sense.—At gaze, in the attitude of gazing. [Prob. cog. with obs. gaw, to stare, Ice. gá, to heed. Some compare the Sw. gasa, to stare.]

Gazebo, gā-zē′bō, n. a summer-house with a wide prospect. [Humorously formed from gaze.]

Gazel, gaz′el, n. a form of Ghazal (q.v.).

Gazelle, Gazel, ga-zel′, n. a small species of antelope with beautiful dark eyes, found in Arabia and North Africa. [Fr.,—Ar. ghazāl, a wild-goat.]

Gazette, ga-zet′, n. a newspaper: one of the three official newspapers of the United Kingdom, published in Edinburgh, London, and Dublin, with record of every appointment in the public service.—v.t. to publish in a gazette:—pr.p. pa.p. —n. ', a geographical dictionary: (orig.) a writer for a gazette, official journalist.—v.t. to describe in gazetteers.—adj. ', like a gazetteer in style.—Appear, Have one's name, in the Gazette, to be mentioned in one of the three official newspapers, esp. of bankrupts. [Fr.,—It. gazzetta, a small coin; or from It. gazzetta, in the sense of a magpie=a chatterer.]

Gazogene, gaz′o-jēn, n. an instrument for manufacturing aerated waters, usually for domestic use, by the action of an acid on an alkali carbonate. [Fr., gaz, gas, Gr. genēs—gignesthai, to become.]

Gazon, ga-zon′, n. a sod or piece of turf, used in fortification.—n. , used erroneously by Hogg for a compact body of men. [Fr., grass.]

Gazy, gā′zi, adj. affording a wide prospect: given to gazing.

Geach, gēch, n. (slang) a thief.—v.t. to steal.

Geal, jē′al, adj. pertaining to the earth regarded as a planet. [Gr. gē, earth.]

Geal, jēl, v.i. to congeal.

Gean, gēn, n. the European wild cherry. [O. Fr. guigne.]

Gear, gēr, n. a state of preparation: dress: harness: tackle: (mech.) connection by means of toothed wheels: (obs.) a matter, affair.—v.t. to put in gear, as machinery.—p.adj. Geared, connected with the motor by gearing.—ns. ', harness: working implements: (mech.) a train of toothed wheels and pinions; ', a wheel with teeth or cogs which impart or transmit motion by acting on those of another wheel; , those parts in a machine most nearly concerned in imparting motion.—Multiplying gearing, a combination of cog-wheels for imparting motion from wheels of larger to wheels of smaller diameter, by which the rate of revolution is increased; Out of gear, out of running order, unprepared; Straight gearing, the name given when the planes of motion are parallel—opposed to Bevelled gearing, when the direction is changed (see Bevel). [M. E. gere, prob. Ice. gervi; cf. A.S. gearwe, Old High Ger. garawi, Eng. yare and gar, v.]

Geason, gē′zn, adj. (Spens.) rare: wonderful. [A.S. gǽsne, gésne, wanting, barren.]

Geat, jēt, n. the hole in a mould through which the metal is poured in casting.

Gebbie, geb′i, n. (Scot.) the stomach.

Gebur, ge-bōōr′, n. a tenant-farmer in the early English community.

Geck, gek, n. a dupe: scorn, object of scorn.—v.t. to mock.—v.i. to scoff at. [Prob. Low Ger. geck; Dut. gek, Ger. geck.]

Gecko, gek′ō, n. one of a family of small dull-coloured lizards called Geckotidæ. [Malay gēkoq.]

Ged, ged, n. (prov.) the pike or luce. [Ice. gedda.]

Gee, gē, n. (prov.) a fit of ill-temper, usually in phrase 'to take the gee.'

Gee, jē, v.i. of horses, to move to the offside—the right, the driver standing on the left.—v.t. to cause so to move.—v.i. to go, to suit, get on well.—n. Gee-gee, a horse.—Gee up, to proceed faster.

Geese, pl. of goose.

Geëz, gē-ez′, Giz, gēz, n. the ancient language of Ethiopia, a Semitic tongue closely related to Arabic.

Gegg, geg, n. (Scot.) a hoax, trick.—v.t. to hoax.—n. , trickery.

Gehenna, ge-hen′a, n. the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, in which the Israelites sacrificed their children to Moloch, and to which, at a later time, the refuse of the city was conveyed to be slowly burned—hence (N.T.) hell. [L.,—Heb. Ge, valley of, and Hinnom.]

Geisha, gā′sha, n. a Japanese dancing-girl.

Geist, gīst, n. spirit, any inspiring or dominating principle. [Ger.]

Gelastic, jel-as′tik, adj. risible.

Gelatine, Gelatin, jel′a-tin, n. an animal substance which dissolves in hot water and forms a jelly when cold.—adj. ', producing gelatine.—vs.t. ', ', to make into gelatine or jelly.—vs.i. to be converted into gelatine or jelly.—ns. ', '.—adjs. ', having the form of gelatine; ', like gelatine; ', resembling or formed into jelly.—n. , solidification by cold.—Explosive gelatine, a powerful explosive made by gently heating nitro-glycerine in a water-bath, then dissolving gun-cotton in it. [Fr.,—It. gelatina, gelata, jelly.]

Geld, geld, n. a historical term meaning money: tribute. [A.S. geld, gyld, payment; Ice. giald, money.]

Geld, geld, v.t. to emasculate, castrate: to spay: to deprive of anything essential, to enfeeble: to deprive of anything objectionable.—ns. '; ', act of castrating: a castrated animal, esp. a horse. [Ice. gelda; Dan. gilde.]

Gelder(s)-rose. See Guelder-rose.

Gelid, jel′id, adj. icy cold: cold.—adv. '.—ns. ', . [L. gelidus—gelu, frost.]

Gelotometer, jel-ot-om′e-ter, n. (Landor) a gauge for measuring laughter.

Gelsemium, jel-sē′mi-um, n. the yellow or Cardina jasmine, a climbing plant of the Atlantic Southern United States, having large fragrant blossoms and perennial dark-green leaves. [It. gelsomino, jasmine.]

Gelt, gelt, pa.t. and pa.p. of geld.

Gelt, gelt, n. (Spens.). Same as Gilt.

Gem, jem, n. any precious stone, esp. when cut: anything extremely valuable or attractive, a treasure.—v.t. (obs.) to bud: to adorn with gems: to bespangle:—pr.p. pa.p. gemmed.—ns. ', the art of cutting and polishing precious stones; ', the art of engraving figures on gems.—adj. ', pertaining to gems.—n. ', gems generally.—adj. , full of gems, brilliant. [A.S. gim; Old High Ger. gimma—L. gemma, a bud.]

Gemara, ge-mär′a, n. the second part of the Talmud, consisting of commentary and complement to the first part, the Mishna. [Aramaic, 'completion.']

Gematria, ge-mā′tri-a, n. a cabbalistic method of interpreting the Hebrew Scriptures by interchanging words whose letters have the same numerical value when added. [Rabbinical Heb.,—Gr. geōmetria, geometry.]

Gemel-ring, jem′el-ring, n. a ring with two or more links.—n. ', a twin.—adj. ', producing twins. [O. Fr. gemel (Fr. jumeau)—L. gemellus, dim. of geminus, twin, and ring.]

Geminate, jem′in-āt, adj. (bot.) in pairs.—v.t. (rare) to double.—n. , a doubling: repetition of a word to add emphasis: (philol.) the doubling of a consonant originally single. [L. gemināre, ātum—geminus, twin.]

Gemini, jem′i-nī, n.pl. the twins, a constellation containing the two bright stars Castor and Pollux.—adj. ' (bot.), double, in pairs.—n. ' (Shak.), twins, a pair: used as a mild oath or interjection, from the common Latin oath O Gemini, or simply Gemini—spelt also geminy, gemony, jiminy. [L., pl. of geminus, twin-born.]

Gemman, jem′an, n. gentleman.—Also .

Gemmation, jem-mā′shun, n. (bot.) act or time of budding: arrangement of buds on the stalk.—n. ', a bud:—pl. '.—adjs. ', pertaining to leaf-buds; ', having buds; '; ', producing buds.—n. '.—adj. ' (zool.), reproducing by buds growing on the body.—n. ', a little gem or leaf-bud.—adj. ', bearing gemmules. [Fr.,—L. gemmāre, -ātum.]

Gemot, Gemote, ge-mōt′, n. a meeting or assembly. [A.S. gemót. Cf. Moot.]

Gemsbok, jemz′bok, n. a species of antelope, found in South Africa, about the size of a stag, with long straight horns. [Dut.]

Genappe, je-nap′, n. a smooth worsted yarn used with silk in fringes, braid, &c. [Genappe in Belgium.]

Gendarme, jang-darm′, n. originally a mounted lancer, but since the Revolution one of a corps of military police, divided into legions and companies:—pl. ', '.—n. , the armed police of France. [Fr. gendarme, sing. from pl. gens d'armes, men-at-arms—gens, people, de, of, armes, arms.]

Gender, jen′dėr, v.t. to beget.—v.i. (B.) to copulate. [An abbrev. of engender.]

Gender, jen′dėr, n. kind, esp. with regard to sex: (gram.) the distinction of nouns according to sex. [Fr. genre—L. genus, generis, a kind, kin.]

Genealogy, jen-e-al′o-ji, n. history of the descent of families: the pedigree of a particular person or family.—adj. '.—adv. '.—v.i. ', to investigate or treat of genealogy.—n. ', one who studies or traces genealogies or descents.—Genealogical tree, the lineage of a family or person under the form of a tree with roots, branches, &c. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. genealogia—genea, birth, legein, to speak of.]

Genera. See Genus.

General, jen′ėr-al, adj. relating to a genus or whole class: including many species: not special: not restricted: common: prevalent: public: loose: vague.—n. a class embracing many species: an officer who is head over a whole department: a military officer who commands a body of men not less than a brigade (often general officer): the chief commander of an army in service: (R.C. Church) the head of a religious order, responsible only to the Pope: (Shak.) the public, the vulgar.—n. ', esp. in pl. Generalia, general principles.—adj. '.—n. '.—v.t. ', to include under a general term: to infer (the nature of a class) from one or a few instances.—v.i. to reason inductively.—n. '.—advs. ', ' (obs.), in a general or collective manner or sense: in most cases: upon the whole.—n. ', the position of a military commander: military tactics.—General Assembly (see Assembly); General Epistle, one addressed to the whole Church (same as Catholic Epistle); General practitioner, a physician who devotes himself to general practice rather than to special diseases; General principle, a principle to which there are no exceptions within its range of application; General servant, a servant whose duties are not special, but embrace domestic work of every kind.—In general, mostly, as a general rule. [O. Fr.,—L. generalis—genus.]

Generalissimo, jen-ėr-al-is′i-mo, n. the chief general or commander of an army of two or more divisions, or of separate armies. [It.]

Generate, jen′ėr-āt, v.t. to produce: to bring into life: to originate.—adj. ', that may be generated or produced.—ns. ' (math.), a line, point, or figure that produces another figure by its motion; ', a producing or originating: a single stage in natural descent: the people of the same age or period: offspring, progeny, race: (pl.) genealogy, history (B.); ', traducianism.—adj. ', having the power of generating or producing.—ns. ', begetter or producer: the principal sound in music; G' (geom.), the point, line, or surface which, by its motion, generates another magnitude.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to genesis or production.—adv. '.—ns. ', ', a female parent; ', a progenitor; ', birth.—Alternation of generations, a complication in the life-history of plants, when the organism produces offspring unlike itself, but giving rise in turn to forms like the original parents; Spontaneous generation, the origination of living from non-living matter: abiogenesis. [L. generāre, —genus, a kind.]

Generic, -al, Generically. See Genus.

Generous, jen′ėr-us, adj. of a noble nature: courageous: liberal: bountiful: invigorating in its nature, as wine: (obs.) nobly born.—adv. '.—ns. ', , nobleness or liberality of nature: (arch.) nobility of birth. [Fr. généreux—L. generosus, of noble birth—genus, birth.]

Genesis, jen′e-sis, n. generation, creation, or production: the first book of the Bible, so called from its containing an account of the Creation:—pl. '.—adjs. ', al, , pertaining to Genesis. [L.,—Gr.,—gignesthai, to beget.]

Genet, Gennet. Same as Jennet.

Genet, jen′et, n. a carnivorous animal, allied to the civet, of a gray colour, marked with black or brown, a native of Africa, Asia, and Southern Europe: its fur, made into muffs and tippets.—Also . [Fr. genette—Sp. gineta—Ar. jarnait, a genet.]

Genethliac, -al, jē-neth′li-ak, -al, adj. pertaining to a birthday or nativity.—n. a birthday poem.—n. ', a birthday ode.—adjs. G', al.—n. , the art of casting nativities.

Geneva, je-nē′va, n. a spirit distilled from grain and flavoured with juniper-berries, also called Hollands.—n. , a wine made from wild fruits flavoured with juniper-berries. [Dut. genever, jenever, O. Fr. genevre (Fr. genièvre)—L. juniperus, the juniper; corrupted to Geneva by confusion with the town of that name. See Gin.]

Genevan, jē-nē′van, adj. pertaining to Geneva.—n. an inhabitant of Geneva: an adherent of Genevan or Calvinistic theology.—adjs. and ns. ', '.—n. , Calvinism.—Geneva Bible, a version of the Bible with racy notes produced by English exiles at Geneva in 1560; Geneva Convention, an international agreement of 1865 providing for the neutrality of hospitals, and the security of sanitary officers, naval and military chaplains; Geneva Cross, a red cross on a white ground displayed for protection in war of persons serving in hospitals, &c.; Geneva gown, the dark, loose preaching gown affected by the early Geneva reformers, and still the common form of pulpit-gown among Presbyterians; Genevan theology, so called from Calvin's residence in Geneva and the establishment of his doctrines there.

Genial, jē′ni-al, adj. pertaining to generation, producing: cheering: kindly: sympathetic: healthful.—v.t. ', to impart geniality to.—ns. ', '.—adv. '. [Fr.—L. genialis, from genius, the spirit of social enjoyment.]

Genial, jen′i-al, adj. of or pertaining to the chin. [Gr. geneion—genys, the jaw.]

Geniculate, -d, je-nik′ū-lāt, -ed, adj. (bot.) bent abruptly like the knee: jointed: knotted.—v.t. ', to form joints in.—n. '. [L. geniculāre, —geniculum, a little knee—genu, the knee.]

Genie, jē′ni, n. a jinnee. [Fr. génie—L. genius.]

Genipap, jen′i-pap, n. a large West Indian tree with excellent fruit. [Native.]

Genista, jē-nis′ta, n. a large genus of shrubby, leguminous plants, with simple leaves and yellow flowers. [L. genista, broom.]

Genital, jen′i-tal, adj. belonging to generation or the act of producing.—n.pl. ' (also '), the exterior organs of generation. [L. genitalis—gignĕre, genitum, to beget.]

Genitive, jen′i-tiv, adj. (gram.) applied to a case properly denoting the class or kind to which a thing belongs, represented in modern English by the possessive case.—adj. . [L. genitivus (gignĕre, genitum, to beget), as if indicating origin, a mistranslation of Gr. genikos—genos, a class.]

Genius, jēn′yus, or jē′ni-us, n. the special inborn faculty of any individual: special taste or disposition qualifying for a particular employment: a man having such power of mind: a good or evil spirit, supposed by the ancients to preside over every person, place, and thing, and esp. to preside over a man's destiny from his birth: prevailing spirit or tendency: type or generic exemplification—(obs.) :—pl. Geniuses —Genius loci (L.), the presiding divinity of a place:—pl. Genii [L. genius—gignĕre, genitum, to beget.]