Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
G p. 553which is the seventh letter, and the fifth consonant letter, of the English alphabet, has two sounds: one simple, as in gave, go, gull; the other compound, like that of j, being nearly equivalent to…Ga. p. 553A Gothic prefix, answering to ge in Anglo-Saxon and other Teutonic languages. It sometimes has the force of the Latin cum or con, as in gawithan, to conjoin. But in most words it appears to have no…Găb, n. p. 553The mouth; hence, idle prate; chatter; unmeaning talk; loquaciousness. Toone.Găb, v. i. p. 553To talk idly; to prate. Chaucer. 2. To impose upon one; to lie. Chaucer.Găb, n. p. 553(Steam-eng.) The hook on the end of an eccentric-rod, opposite the strap. [See Illust. of Eccentric.]Gā'ban, n. p. 553A kind of coarse cloak. Simmonds.Găb'ar-aġe, n. p. 553A kind of coarse cloth for packing goods. [Obs.]Găb'ar-dīne', n. p. 553A coarse frock or loose upper garment; a mean dress. [Written also gaberdine.] Shak.Găb'ble, v. i. p. 553To talk fast, or to talk without meaning; to prate; to jabber. Such a rout, and such a rabble, Run to hear Jack Pudding gabble. Swift. 2. To utter inarticulate sounds with rapidity; as, gabbling…Găb'ble, n. p. 553Loud or rapid talk without meaning. Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud Among the builders. Milton. 2. Inarticulate sounds rapidly uttered, as of fowls. Shak.Găb'bler, n. p. 553One who gabbles; a prater; a noisy talker; one who utters inarticulate sounds.Gā'bel, n. p. 553A tax, impost, or duty; an excise. He enabled St. Peter to pay his gabel by the ministry of a fish. Bp. Taylor.Gā'bel-er, n. p. 553A collector of the gabel, or of taxes.Ga-bĕlle', n. p. 553A tax, especially on salt. [France.]Găb'er-dīne', n. p. 553A coarse frock or upper garment; gabardine. My best way is to creep under his gaberdine; there is no other shelter hereabout. Shak.Găb'er-lŭn'zie, n. p. 553A beggar; one who can not pay for his entertainment. W. Scott.G. p. 553G.Gā'bi-on, n. p. 553(Fort.) A hollow cylinder, of wicker-work, resembling a basket, but having no bottom, filled with earth, and serving to shelter men from an enemy's fire. Campbell.Gā'bi-on-aġe, n. p. 553(Mil.) Gabions when used for fortification.Gā'bi-on-nāde', n. p. 553(Fort.) A work hastily thrown up; especially, one formed chiefly of gabions. Campbell.Gā'ble, n. p. 553(Arch.) The vertical triangular end of a house or other building, from the cornice or eaves to the top. Gwilt. Gable roof, the sloping roof which forms a gable. — Gable window, a window in a gable…Gā'ble, n. p. 553A cable. [Obs.] Chapman.Gā'blet, n. p. 553(Arch.) A small ornamented gable, or canopy, formed over a tabernacle, niche, &c. Fairholt.Găb'lŏck, n. p. 553A false spur or gaff for a fighting-cock. Wright.Gā'by, n. p. 553A silly, foolish person; a simpleton; a dunce; a gawby. [Colloq.]Găd, n. p. 553The point of a spear, or an arrow head. Shak. 2. A point or wedge-shaped instrument of metal. I will go get a leaf of brass. And with a gad of steel will write these words. Shak. 3. A sharp-pointed…Găd, v. i. p. 553To walk about; to rove or ramble idly, or without any fixed purpose. Envy is a gadding passion, and walketh the streets. Bacon. 2. To ramble in growth. “With . . . the gadding vine o’ergrown.” Milton.Găd'-a-bout', n. p. 553One who gads about, or roves idly; a gadder. [Colloq.]Găd'der, n. p. 553A rambler; one who roves about idly.Găd'ding-ly, adv. p. 553In a roving, idle manner.Găd'dish, a. p. 553Disposed to gad about.Găd'dish-ness, n. p. 553The quality of being gaddish; idleness. “Gaddishness and folly.” Abp. Leighton.Găd'flȳ, n. p. 553(Entom.) An insect of the genus Œstrus, which stings cattle, and deposits its eggs in their skin;—called also breeze. The common species which infest oxen is Œstrus bovis. ☞ The gadfly of the horse…Găd/i-tā'ni-an, a. p. 553(Geog.) Belonging or relating to Cadiz, in Spain, or to its inhabitants.Găd/i-tā'ni-an, n. p. 553(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Cadiz.Gād'ling, n. p. 553(Anc. Armor.) A spike or sharp-pointed boss on the knuckle of a gauntlet; gad. Fosbroke.Gād'ling, n. p. 553\nAn idle vagabond. Chaucer.Gād'ling, a. p. 553Gadding about; rambling; straggling. [Obs.] Bullokar.Gā'doid, n. p. 553(Ichth.) One of a family of soft-finned fishes, having the ventral fins below or in advance of the pectoral, of which family the cod is the type. Brande.Gā'doid, a. p. 553(Ichth.) Relating to a family of fishes of which the cod is the type.Găd'o-lin-ite, n. p. 553(Min.) A mineral of a black or greenish-black color and vitreous luster, and consisting principally of the silicates of yttrium, cerium, and iron;— so called from Prof. Gadolin, a Russian chemist.Gā'dus, n. p. 553(Ichth.) A genus of fishes in the Linnæan system, including the cod.Gād'wall, n. p. 553(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Anas (A. strepera), found in the northern parts of Europe and America, in marshes and along the shores;Gāel, n. sing. & pl. p. 553A Scotch Highlander of Celtic origin. 2. An Irish Celt.Gāe'lie, a. p. 553Belonging to the Gael, tribes of Celtic origin inhabiting the Highlands of Scotland; as, the Gaelic language.Gāe'lie, n. p. 553The language of the Highlanders of Scotland. It is a branch of the Celtic.Gāff, n. p. 553A light spear or barbed iron used by fishermen. 2. (Naut.) A sort of boom or yard, extending the upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail. Brande. 3. A gaffle. Wright.Găf'fer, n. p. 553An old fellow; an aged rustic. Go to each gaffer and each goody. Fawkes. Gaffer was originally a word of respect, now degenerated into a term of familiarity or contempt, when addressed to an aged man.Gāf'fle, n. p. 553An artificial spur put on cocks when they are set to fight. 2. A steel lever to bend cross-bows. Ainsworth.Gāff'-tōp'sail, n. p. 553(Naut.) A small sail placed above, and spread by, a gaff.Gāf'ol, n. p. 553(Law.) Rent or income; tax, tribute, or custom. Burrill.Gāf'ol-lānd, n. p. 553(Law.) Land subject to taxes; land that is rented.Gāg, v. t. p. 553To stop the mouth of, by thrusting in something, so as to hinder speaking; hence, to silence by authority or by violence; not to allow freedom of speech to. Murrell. 2. To pry or hold open by means…Gāg, v. i. p. 553To keck; to heave with nausea.Gāg, n. p. 553Something thrust into the mouth or throat to hinder speaking. 2. A mouthful that makes one retch; a choking bit, as a gag of mutton fat. C. Lamb.Gāg'ate, n. p. 553Agate. [Obs. and rare.] Fuller.Gāge, n. p. 553A pledge or pawn; something laid down or given as a security for the performance of some act, to be done by the person depositing the thing, and which is to be forfeited by non-performance; security.…Gāge, n. p. 554A measure or standard. See GAUGE.Gāge, v. t. p. 554To give or deposit as a pledge or security for some other act; to wage or wager; to pawn or pledge. [Obs.] A moiety competent Was gaged by our king. Shak. 2. To bind by pledge, caution, or security…Gāge, v. t. p. 554To measure. See GAUGE. You shall not gage me By what we do to-night. Shak.