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 1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 28. But—mind! don't tell the governor!

1852. Comic Almanack, p. 19. Your father: Speaking to him, say 'Guvnor,' or 'Old Strike-a-light;' of him, 'The old un.'

1859. Witty Political Portraits, p. 111. Unconscious of the constitutional delusions on which his governor has thrived.

1889. Answers, 20 Apr., p. 323. To call your father 'The Governor' is, of course, slang, and is as bad as referring to him as 'The Boss,' 'The Old Man,' or 'The Relieving Officer.'

1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 9. Jan. It was mortifying to be done in that manner by a low fellow like Muggins, that I had always looked upon as a fool, and had made a butt of when the guv. was out of the way.

1892. Hume Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, p. 118. The Governor is in an awful funk about him.

2. (common).—A mode of address to strangers. Fr., bourgeois.

1892. Anstey, Voces Populi (Second Series). 'At the Guelph Exhibition.' Right, guvnor; we'll come.

3. (colloquial).—A master or superior; an employer.

English Synonyms.—Boss; captain of the waiters; captain; chief; colonel; commander; chief bottle-washer; ganger; head-butler; head-cook and bottle-washer; gorger; omee; rum-cull.

French Synonyms.—Le pantriot (popular and thieves': also = a young nincompoop); le, or la, pâte (popular: properly paste or dough); le naïf (printers': obsolete); le herz or hers (thieves': obviously from the German); le loncegué (thieves': Fr., back-slang; = gonce, itself a slang term for a man); le galeux (popular) = one with the itch); le grêle (popular: specifically a master-tailor); le singe (= monkey); le troploc; le nourisseur = the grubber); l'ogre (specifically a fence); le notaire (= publican); le patron (colloquial: = governor).

Italian Synonyms.—Chielmiero (vulgar).

Governor's-stiff, subs. (American).—A pardon.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.

Gower-street Dialect. See Medical Greek.

Gowk, subs. (prison).—A simpleton. (Scots' gowk = a cuckoo). For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head. Also a countryman. For synonyms, see Joskin.

1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. x. 'Hout awa', ye auld gowk,' said Jenny Rintherout.

To hunt the gowk, verb. phr. (common).—To go on a fool's errand.

Gowler, subs. (old).—A dog; specifically a howler.

Gown, subs. (Winchester College)—1. Coarse brown paper, (obsolete).

2. (University).—The schools as distinguished from the town (q.v.)., e.g., Town and Gown.

1847. Thackeray, Punch's Prize Novelists, 'Codlingsby,' p. 232. From the Addenbrooke's hospital to the Blenheim turnpike, all Cambridge was in an uproar—the College gates closed—the shops barricaded—the shop-boys away in support of their brother townsmen—the battle raged, and the Gown had the worst of the fight.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, II., ch. iii. When Gown was absent, Town was miserable.

1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 30 May, p. 4, c. 3. Town and Gown joined in harmony.