2. (venery).—To receive the sexual embrace: of women only.To get out of bed on the wrong side,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be testy or cross-grained. [A corruption of an old saying, ‘To rise on the right side is accounted lucky’; hence the reverse meant trials to temper, patience, and luck.]1607.Marston,What You Will. Yourise on your right sideto-day, marry.1608.Machin,Dumb Knight, iv., 1. Sure I said my prayers,ris’d on my right side, Wash’d hands and eyes, put on my[136]girdle last; Sure I met no splea-footed baker, No hare did cross me, nor no bearded witch, Nor other ominous sign.1614.Terence in English.C.What doth shee keepe house alreadie?D.Alreadie.C.O good God!;we rose on the right sideto-day.1647.BeaumontandFletcher, i.Women Pleased. Yourose o’ your right side.1890.Globe, 15 May, p. 2, col. 2. Some of them had—if we may employ such a vulgar expression—got out of bed on the wrong side.To get out(orRound),verb. phr.(racing).—To back a horse against which one has previously laid; toHedge(q.v.).1884.Hawley Smart,From Post to Finish, p. 318. He had an idea Johnson was this time cleverly working a very well authorised commission, and that he personally had taken more than one opportunity of what is termedgetting out.To get set,verb. phr.(cricketing).—1. To warm to one’s work at the wicket, and collar the bowling; to get one’s eye well in.To get there,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To attain one’s object; to be successful;to make one’s jack(q.v.);to get there with both feet= to be very successful.1887.Francis,Saddle and Mocassin. He said as he’d been gambling, and was two hundred dollars ahead of the town. Hegot there with both feetat starting.1888.New York Herald, 29 July. Although not a delegate hegot thereall the same.2. (common).—To get drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.3. (venery).—To enjoy the sexual favour.To get through,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To pass an examination; to accomplish.1853.Bradley,Verd. Green, II. ch. xii. So you see, Giglamps, I’m safe toget through.To get up and dust,verb. phr.(American).—To depart hastily. For synonyms,seeSkedaddleandAmputate.To get up behind(orget behind)a man,verb. phr.(common).—To endorse or back a bill.1880.Life in a Debtor’s Prison, p. 87. In other cases he figured as the drawer, or simply as endorser. This, Mr. Whipper described asgetting up behind.To get up the mail,verb. phr.(thieves’).—To find money (as counsels’ fees, etc.) for defence.1889.ClarksonandRichardson,Police, 322, s.v.[Getenters into many other combinations.Seeback teeth;bagorsack;bead;beans;beat;big birdandgoose;big head;billet;bit;boat;bolt;books;bulge;bullet;bull’s feather;crocketts;danderandmonkey;dark;drop;eye;flannels;flint;game;grand bounce;gravel-rash;grind;grindstone;hand;hang;hat;head;hiporhop;home;horn;hot;jack;keen;length ofone’sfoot;measure;mitten;needle;religion;rise;run;scot,swot, orscrape;set;shut of;silk;snuff;straight;sun;ticket of leave;wool;wrong box.]Getaway,subs.(American thieves’).—A locomotive or train; apuffer(q.v.).Getter.Asure getter,subs. phr.(Scots).—A procreant male with a great capacity for fertilization.[137]Get-up,subs.(colloquial).—1. Dress; constitution and appearance; disguise.SeeGet-up,verb, sense 1.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xiv. Is that killingget upentirely for your benefit, John? I asked.1865.G. A. Sala,Trip to Barbary, ch. x. Altogether theget upof a Mauresqueen promenadeis livelier and smarter than that of a Turkish woman.1866.G. Eliot,Felix Holt, ch. xii. The graceful, well-appointed Mr. Christian, who sneered at Scales about hisget up, having to walk back to the house with only one tail to his coat.1882.Graphic, 9 Dec., p. 643, c. 2. Comicgets up, which will make the house roar presently, are elaborated with the business air of a judge inbanc, or a water-rate collector.1889.Mirror, 26 Aug., p. 2, c. 1. I cannot, however, congratulate F. C. G. on his sketch of Blowitz; it isn’t much like the great man, and theget upis quite too absurd.1890.Daily Telegraph, 25 Feb., p. 7. col. 7. Dressed as acopurchic, and, giving himself out as an Italian count—thinking to entrap some Transatlantic heiress by his title, fascinating appearance, and gorgeousget up.Verb. phr.(colloquial).—(1). To prepare (a part, a paper, a case); (2) to arrange (a concert); (3) to dress (asgot up regardless,to the nines,to the knocker,to kill,within an inch of one’s life); (4) to disguise (as a sailor, a soldier, Henry VIII., a butcher, a nun).SeealsoGet into.1828.L. Hunt,Essays(Camelot ed.), p. 13. The pocket-books that now contain any literature aregot up, as the phrase is, in the most unambitious style.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xviii. Three very gentleman-like, good-looking men,got upto the utmost extent of hunting splendour.1864.Eton School Days, ch. xviii., p. 207. He felt confident in his power ofgetting upso that no one would recognise him.1866.New York Home Journal, Jan. While that admirable old dame, Nature, has been strangely neglectful of much which might be conducive to our comfort, she hasgotten up, regardless of expense, a few articles which are good for some purposes, as the witty Hood has told us.1871.London Figaro, 11 Mar. It isgot upvery much in the style of the Paris journals, and is very inferior compared with any respectable journal in England.1889.Polytechnic Magazine, 24 Oct., p. 261. He came speciallygot upin piebald trousers.1892.Chevalier.‘The Little Nipper.’ I’ve knowed ’im take a girl on six feet tall; ’E’dgit ’imself updossy, Say ‘I’m goin’ out wi’ Flossie.’G.H.SeeGeorge Horne.Ghastly,adj.andadv.(colloquial).—Very: a popular intensitive;Cf.,Awful,Bloody,Fucking.Ghost,subs.(common).—One who secretly does artistic or literary work for another person taking the credit and receiving the price. [The term was frequently used during the trial of Lawesv.Belt in 188(?).]Cf.,devil.1890.Daily Telegraph, 8 Feb. The sculptor’sghostis conjured up from the vasty deep of byegone lawsuits.1892.National Observer, vii., 327.Would not the unkind describe your ‘practical man’ as aghost?Verb.(common).—To prowl; to spy upon;to shadow(q.v.).The ghost walks(ordoes not walk)phr.(theatrical).—There is (or is not) money in the treasury.1853.Household Words, No. 183. When no salaries are forthcoming theghost doesn’t walk.[138]1883.Referee, 24 June, p. 3, c. 2. An Actor’s Benevolent Fund box placed on the treasurer’s desk every day whenthe ghost walkswould get many an odd shilling or sixpence put into it.1885.The Stage, p. 112. The rogues seldom appear at a loss for a plausible story when it is time for theghost to walk.Ibid.The next daythe ghost declines to walk.1889.J. C. Colman(inSlang, Jargon, and Cant), p. 405.Ghost-walking, a term originally applied by an impecunious stroller in a sharing company to the operation of ‘holding the treasury,’ or paying the salaries, which has become a stock facetiæ among all kinds and descriptions of actors. Instead of enquiring whether the treasury is open, they generally say—‘Has theghost walked?’ or ‘What, has this thing appeared again?’ (Shakspeare).1890.Illustrated Bits, 29 Mar., p. 11, c. 1. And a few nights with empty bencheslaid the ghostcompletely. It could not evenwalkto the tune of quarter salaries.The ghost of a chance,subs. phr.(colloquial).—The faintest likelihood, or the slightest trace:e.g., He hasn’tthe ghost of a chance.1891.Sportsman, 26 Mar. He did not givethe ghost of a chance.Ghoul,subs.(American.)—1. A spy; specifically a man who preys on such married women as addict themselves to assignation houses.2. (journalistic).—A newspaper chronicler of the smallest private tittle-tattle.Gib,subs.(colloquial).—1. Gibraltar. Once a penal station: whence—2. A gaol.1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 221. I did a lagging of seven, and was at thegibthree out of it.1892.Pall Mall Gazette, 23 Mar., p. 6, c. 1. ‘Stormy Weather atgib.’ The weather here has been fearful; 51 inches of rain have been registered, and the land for miles round Gibraltar is submerged.To hang one’s gib,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To pout.SeeJib.Gibberish(orGebberish,Gibberidge,Gibrige, etc.),subs.(old: now recognised).—Originally the lingo of gipsies, beggars, etc. Now, any kind of inarticulate nonsense. [Fromgibber, a variant ofJabber.]SeeCant,Slang,Pedlar’s French, etc.1594.Nashe,Unf. Traveller, in wks., v., 68. That all cried out upon him mightily in theirgibrige, lyke a companie of beggers.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes.Gergare, to speak fustian, pedlers french,or rogues language, orgibbrish.1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Jargon,gibridgefustian language,pedler’sFrench, a barbarus jangling.1638.H. Shirley,Martyr’d Souldier, Act iii., Sc. 4. Feele my pulse once again and tell me, Doctor, Tell me in tearmes that I may understand,—I doe not love yourgibberish,—tell me honestly Where the Cause lies, and give a Remedy.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.).Gibberish(s.) an unintelligible jargon, or confused way of speaking, used by the gipsies, beggars, etc., to disguise their wicked designs; also any discourse where words abound more than sense.1748.Smollett,Rod. Random, ch. xxx. He repeated somegibberishwhich by the sound seemed to be Irish.1817.Scott,Rob Roy, ch. viii. Since that d——d clerk of mine has taken hisgibberishelsewhere.1850.D. Jerrold,The Catspaw,Act i. Odds and ends … writ down in such a kind ofgibberishthat I can’t make out one of ’em.1858.G. Eliot,Mr. Gilfit’s Love Story, ch. iv. It’ll learn to speak summat better norgibberish, an’ be brought up i’ the true religion.1892.R. L. StevensonandL. Osbourne,The Wrecker, p. 129. It was Fo’c’s’le Jack that piped and drawled his ungrammaticalgibberish.[139]Gibble-Gabble,subs.(colloquial).—Nonsense;gibberish(q.v.). [A reduplication ofgabble(q.v.).]1600.Dekker,Shoemaker’s Holiday, in wks. (1873) i., 21. Hee’s some uplandish workeman, hire him good master, That I may learne somegibble gabble, ’twill make us worke the faster.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.).Gibble-gabble(s), silly, foolish, idle talk.Gib-cat,subs.(old).—A tom-cat. [An abbreviation of Gilbert = O. Fr.:Tibert, the cat in the fable of Reynard the Fox.]1360.Chaucer,Romaunt of the Rose, 6204 (Thibert le Casis rendered bygibbe, our cat).1598.Shakspeare,1 Henry IV., Act i., Sc. 2. I am as melancholy as agib-cat.1614.Jonson,Bartholomew Fair, i., 1. Before I endure such another day with him, I’ll be drawn with a goodgib-catthrough the great pond at home.1663.Rump Songs.‘Rump Carbonadoed,’ ii., 71. As if they had less wit and grace thangib-cats.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gibe,verb.(American).—To go well with; to be acceptable.SeeGee.Gibel,verb.(thieves’).—To bring.1837.Disraeli,Venetia, bk. i., ch. xiv.Gibelthe chive, bring the knife.Gib-face,subs.(colloquial).—A heavy jowl; anugly-mug(q.v.).Cf.,to hang one’s gib.Giblets,subs.(common).—1. The intestines generally; themanifold(q.v.).Cf.trouble-giblets.1864.Browning,Dramatis Personæ,‘Flight of the Duchess.’ Is pumped up briskly through the main ventricle, And floats me genially round thegiblets.2. (colloquial).—A fat man;forty-guts(q.v.). AlsoDuke of Giblets.To join giblets,verb. phr.(venery).—To copulate. Alsoto haveordo a bit of giblet-pie. For synonyms,seeRide. Hence to cohabit as husband and wife;to live tally.Cf.,plaster of warm guts.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1887.Notes and Queries, 7 S., iv., 511. ‘To join giblets.’—This expression may occasionally be heard in this district, among the lowest and vulgarest, and has a very offensive meaning.To fret one’s giblets,verb. phr.—SeeFret.Gibraltar,subs.(American).—A party stronghold:e.g., theGibraltarofDemocracy.—Norton.Gibson(orSir John Gibson),subs.(old coachbuilders’).—A rest to support the body of a building coach.Gibus,subs.(colloquial).—1. An opera, or crush hat. Fr.,un accordéon. [From the name of the inventor.]1867.Jas. Greenwood,Unsent. Journeys, iii., 21. West-End aristocrats, with spotless jean coats andGibushats.1871.Figaro, 2 Sept. Much fun may be made by wearing aGibus, and collapsing it at the moment of contact with the funnel.1885.Punch, 4 Apr., p. 160. Giving his comic, shiny, curly-brimmed hat to the swell who couldn’t by any possible chance have mistaken it for his ownGibus.1887.Atkin,House Scraps, p. 144. TheirGibushats are cock’d awry.[140]Giddy,adj.(colloquial).—Flighty; wanton:e.g.,to play the giddy goat= to live a fast life; to be happy-go-lucky.1892.Ally Sloper, 19 Mar., p. 91, c. 2. Fanny Robinson was flighty; sheplayed the giddy ox—I mean heifer.Giffle-gaffle,subs.(old).—Nonsense; a variant ofgibble-gabble(q.v.).1787.Grose,Prov. Glossary.Giff-gaff, unpremeditated discourse.Gif-gaf(orGiff-gaff),subs.(Scots’).—A bargain on equal terms. Whence the proverb:Gif-gafmaks guid friens. Fr.:Passe-moi la casse et je t’enverrai la senne.Gift,subs.(colloquial).—1. Anything, lightly gained or easily won.2. (common).—A white speck on the finger nails, supposed to portend a gift.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.3. (printers’).—SeeGift-house.As full of gifts as a brazen horse of farts,phr.(old).—Mean; miserly; disinclined topart(q.v.).1811Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.Gift of the Gab.—SeeGab.Gift-house(orGift),subs.(printers’).—A club; a house of call; specifically for the purpose of finding employment, or providing allowances for members.Gig(Gigg,Gigge),subs.(old).—1. a wanton; a mistress; a flighty girl.Cf.,Giglet.1373.Chaucer,House of Fame, iii. 851. This house was also ful ofgygges.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew. A younggig, a wanton lass.1780.D’Arbley,Diary, etc., (1876), i., 286. Charlotte L—— called, and the littlegigtold … of the domestic life she led in her family, and made them all ridiculous, without meaning to make herself so.1825.Planché,SuccessinExtravaganzas(1879) I., 26. He! he! What agigyou look in that hat and feather!1832.MacaulayinLife, byTrevelyan(1884), ch. v., p. 188. Be you Foxes, be you Pitts, You must write to silly chits, Be you Tories, be you Whigs, You must write to sad younggigs.2. (old).—A jest; a piece of nonsense; anything fanciful or frivolous. Hence, generally, in contempt.1590.Nashe,Pasquil’s Apologie, in wks. Vol. I., p. 234. A right cutte of the worde, withoutegiggesor fancies of haereticall and newe opinions.1793.Butt,Poems.… Fograms, quizzes, treats, and bores, andgigs, Were held in some account with ancient prigs.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xiv. Such a set ofgigs, my dear, I never saw in my life; large underbred horses, and not a good-looking man amongst them.3. (old).—The nose. For synonyms,seeConk.To snitchell the gig= to pull the nose.Grunter’s gig= a hog’s snout.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.4. (venery).—The femalepudendum. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable. [Possibly fromgig= a top,i.e., a toy; possibly, too, from It.giga= afiddle(q.v.); but seepostsense 8.]1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.[141]5. (old: now recognised).—A light two-wheeled vehicle drawn by one horse.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1809.Windham,Speech, 25 May. Let the former riders ingigsand whiskeys, and one horsed carriages continue to ride in them.6. (old).—A door.SeeGigger.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue. It is all bob, now let’s dub thegiggof the case: now the coast is clear, let us break open the door of the house.7. (Eton).—A fool; an overdressed person. For synonyms,seeSammy-soft.1797.Colman,Heir at Law, iv., 3.Dick.—What a damn’dgigyou look like.Pangloss.—Agig! umph! that’s an Eton phrase—the Westminsters call it Quiz.1870.Athenæum, 16 Apr. He would now be what Eton used to call agig, and Westminster a Quiz.8. (old).—Fun; a frolic; a spree. [Possibly from Fr.:gigue= a lively dance movement.Cf.,gigue et jon= a Bacchanalian exclamation of sailors. In Florio, too,frottolare= ‘to singgigges, rounds, or … wanton verses.’]Full of gig= full of laughter, ripe for mischief.1811.Moore,Twopenny Post-bag, Letter 3. We were all in highgig—Roman punch and tokay travelled round, till our heads travelled just the same way.1820.Randall,Diary. In search of lark, or some deliciousgig, The mind delights on, when ’tis in prime twig.1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 3. I hope we shall have many a bit ofgigtogether.1888.Besant,Fifty Years Ago, p. 134. A laughter-loving lass of eighteen who dearly loved a bit ofgig.9. (old).—The mouth. For synonyms,seePotato-trap.1871.Finish to Tom and Jerry, p. 175(ed. 1872). The bit of myrtle in hisgig.10. (old).—A farthing. Formerlygrig(q.v.).11.(American).—SeePolicy Dealing.Verb.(old).—To hamstring.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.To gigga Smithfield hank, to hamstring an overdrove ox.By Gigs!intj.(old).—A mild and silly oath.SeeOaths.1551.W. Still,Gammer Gurton’s Needle, ii., 51. Chad a foule turne now of late, chill tell it you,by gigs!Gigamaree,subs.(American).—A thing of little worth; a pretty but useless toy; agimcrack(q.v.).1848.Jones,Sketches of Travel, p. 9. Byin’ fineries and northerngigamareesof one kind or another.Ibid.I ax’d the captain what sort of agigamareehe had got up there for a flag.Gigantomachize,verb.(old).—To rise in revolt against one’s betters. Gr.,Gigantomachia= the War of the Giants against the Gods. [Probably a coinage of Ben Jonson’s.]1599.Jonson,Every Man Out, Act v., 4. Slight, fed with it the whoreson, strummel-patched, goggle-eyed grumble-dores would havegigantomachizedtheir Maker.Gigger,subs.(tailors’).—1. A sewing machine. (In allusion to noise and movement).2.SeeJigger.Giggles-nest.Have you found a giggles-nest?phr.(old).—Asked of a persontittering, or one who laughs immoderately and senselessly.[142]Gig-lamps,subs.(common).—1. Spectacles. For synonyms,seeBarnacles.1848.Bradley, inLetter to J. C. H.Gig-lamps(certainly a university term. I first heard it in 1848 or 1849, long before Mr. Verdant Green was born or thought of).1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 140. You with thegig-lamps, throw us your cigar.1887.Punch, 30 July, p. 45. Jack’s a straw-thatched young joker ingig-lamps.1892.F. Anstey,Voces Populi. ‘At the Tudor Exhibition.’ Stop, though, suppose shehasspotted me? Never can tell withgiglamps.2. (common).—One who wears spectacles; afour eyes(q.v.). [Popularised by Verdant Green.]Gigler(orGiglet,Goglet,Gigle,Gig),subs.(old).—A wanton; a mistress.Giglet(West of England) = a giddy, romping girl; and in Salop a flighty person is called agiggle.Cf.,Gig, sense 1.1533.Udal,Floures for Latine Spekynge, fo. 101. What is the matter, foolishgiglotte? What meanest thou? Whereat laughest thou?1567.Harman,Caveat, leaf 22,back. Therefore let us assemble secretly into the place where he hath appoynted to meet thisgyleotthat is at your house.1603.Shakspeare,Measure for Measure, v., 1. Let him speak no more: away with thosegiglotstoo, and with the other confederate companion.1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Gadrouillette, minx,gigle, flirt.1620.Massienger,Fatal Dowry, Act. iii. If this be The recompence of striving to preserve A wantongigglethonest, very shortly ’Twill make all mankind pandars.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue.Gigglers, wanton women.Adj.(old).—Loose in word and deed. Alsogiglet-like, andgiglet-wise= like a wanton.1598.Shakspeare,1 Henry IV., Act v., Sc. 1. Young Talbot was not born To be the pillage of agiglotwench.1600.Fairfax,Jerusalem Delivered, vi., 72. That thou wilt gad by night ingiglet-wise, Amid thine armed foes to seek thy shame.Gild,verb.(old).—To make drunk; to flush with drink.1609.Shakspeare,Tempest, Act v., Sc. 1. This grand liquor that hathgildedthem.1620.Fletcher,Chances, iv., 3. Is she not drunk, too? A littlegildedo’er, sir.To gild the pill,phr.(colloquial).—To say, or do, unpleasant things as gently as may be; to impose upon; tobamboozle(q.v.).Gilded Rooster,subs. phr.(American).—A man of importance; ahowling swell(q.v.); sometimesthe gilded rooster on the top of the steeple.Cf.,big-bug;big dog of the tanyard, etc.1888.New York Herald.We admit that as a metropolis Chicago is thegilded rooster on top of the steeple, but evengilded roostershave no right to the whole corn bin.Gilderoy’s Kite.To be hung higher than gilderoy’s kite,verb. phr.(old).—To be punished more severely than the very worst criminals. ‘The greater the crime the higher the gallows’ was at one time a practical legal axiom. Hence, out of sight; completely gone.Giles’ Greek.SeeSt. Giles’ Greek.[143]Gilguy,subs.(nautical).—Anything which happens to have slipped the memory; equivalent towhat’s-his-nameorthingamytight.Gilkes,subs.(old).—Skeleton keys.1610.Rowlands,Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874).Gilkesor the Gigger, false keyes for the doore or picklockes.Gill(orJill),subs.(old).—1. A girl; (2) a sweetheart:e.g., ‘every Jack must have hisGill’; (3) a wanton, a strumpet (an abbreviation ofgillian). For synonyms,seeJomerandTitter.1586–1606.Warner,Albion’s England, bk. vii., ch. 37. The simplestgillor knave.1598.Florio,A Worlde of Wordes,Palandrina, a common queane, a harlot, a strumpet, agill.1620.Percy,Folio MSS., p. 104. There is neuer a Jacke forgill.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.2. (common).—a drink; ago(q.v.).1785.Burns,Scots Drink. Haill breeks, a scone, andwhisky gill.3.in. pl.‘g’ hard (colloquial).—The mouth or jaws; the face.SeePotato-trapandDial.1622.Bacon,Historia Naturalis. Redness about the cheeks andgills.1632.Jonson,Magnetic Lady, i. He … draws all the parish wills, Designs the legacies, and strokes thegillsof the chief mourners.b.1738.Wolcot,Pindar’s Works(1809), i., 8. Whether you look all rosy round thegills, Or hatchet-fac’d like starving cats so lean.1820.Lamb,Elia(Two Races of Men). What a careless, even deportment hath your borrower! what rosygills!1855.Thackeray,Newcomes, ch. viii. Binnie, as brisk and rosy about thegillsas chanticleer, broke out in a morning salutation.1884.Punch.He went a bit red in thegills.4.in. pl.(common).—A very large shirt collar; alsostick-upsandsideboards. Fr.:cache-bonbon-à-liqueur= a stick-up.1859.Sala,Twice Round the Clock, 6 p., in Part 7. With a red face, shaven to the superlative degree of shininess, withgillswhite and tremendous, with a noble white waistcoat.1884.Daily Telegraph, July 8, p. 5, c. 4. Lord Macaulay wore, to the close of his life, ‘stick-ups,’ orgills.To grease the gills.—verb.phr.(common).—To have a good meal;to wolf(q.v.).To look blue(orqueer, orgreen)about the gills,verb. phr.(common).—To be downcast or dejected; also to suffer from the effects of a debauch. Hence, conversely,to be rosy about the gills= to be cheerful.1836.M. Scott,Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. ii. Most of them were very white andblue in the gillswhen we sat down, and others of a dingy sort of whitey-brown, while they ogled the viands in a most suspicious manner.1892.G. Manville Fenn,Witness to the Deed, ch. ii. You look precious seedy.White about the gills.A cant(ordig)in the gills,phr.(pugilists’).—A punch in the face.SeeBang.Gill-flirt,subs.(old).—A wanton; a flirt. For synonyms,seeBarrack HackandTart.1598.Florio,A Worlde of Wordes.1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Gaultiere, a whore, punke, drab, queane,gill,flirt.[144]1690. B. E.,Dict, of the Cant. Crew, s.v. A proud minx.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.Gilly,subs.(American).—A fool. For synonyms,seeBuffleandCabbage-head.Gilly-gaupus,subs. phr.(Scots).—A tall loutish fellow.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gilt,subs.(popular).—1. Money. [Ger.:Geld; Du.:Geld.]English Synonyms.—Add to those underActual:—Charms; checks; cole or coal; coliander seeds; corn in Egypt; crap; darby; dots; ducats; gingerbread; kelter; lowie; lurries; moss; oil of palms; palm-oil; peck; plums; rhino; rivets; salt; sawdust; scad; screen; scuds; shigs; soap; spoon; steven; sugar; tea-spoons; tinie.French Synonyms.—Le galtos(popular);l’odeur de gousset(obsolete);l’onguent(= palm grease, Sp.,unguento; the simile is common to most languages);le morlingue(thieves’);la menouille(popular);le michon(thieves’: frommiche, a loaf,cf.,Loaver);les monacos(popular);le monarque(prostitutes’: primarily a five franc piece);le blé(= corn or loaver);les étoffes(thieves’).Spanish Synonyms.—La lana(= wool);la morusa(colloquial);la mosca(= the flies);lo numerario;la pelusa(= down);lo zurraco(colloquial);lo unguento de Mejico(= Mexican Grease);a’ toca teja(colloquial: ready money);caire.Italian Synonyms.—Cucchi;cuchieri;cucchielli;lugani.German Synonyms.—Fuchs(= fox: an allusion to the ruddy hue of gold pieces);fuxigorfuxern= golden, red;fuchsmelochener(= goldsmith);gipsorgyps(Viennese thieves’, from the Latin,gypsum);hora(= ready-money: from the Hebrewheren);kall(Han: especially small change: from Heb.kal= lowly light);kis,kies,kiss(applied both to money in general and the receptacle or purse in which it is carried);lowe,love(Han.);mepaie(from the Fr.,payer)mesumme,linke mesumme(= counterfeit money);moos(from Heb.,mëo= a little stone);pich,picht, orpech;staub(= dust).1599.Shakspeare,Henry V., Act ii.Chorus.These corrupted men … have for thegiltof France (O guilt, indeed) Confirmed conspiracy.1714.Memoirs of John Hall(4th ed.), p. 9. And from thence conducted (provided he hasgilt) over the way to Hell.1885.Daily News, 25 May, p. 3, c. 1. Disputatious like mobs grouped together to discuss whether Charrington or Crowder had the mostgilt.2.subs.(old).—A thief; a pick-lock; alsogilt-orrum-dubber,gilter, etc.1669.Nicker NickedinHarl. Misc.(ed. Park), ii., 108 (given in list of names of thieves).1673.Character of a Quack Astrologer.For that purpose he maintains as strict a correspondence withgiltsand lifters.1676.Warning for Housekeepers, p. 3. Thegilteris one that hath all sorts of picklocks and false keys.1680.Cotton,Complete Gamester, p. 333. Shoals of muffs, hectors, setters,gilts, pads, biters, etc. … may all pass under the general appellation of snobs.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.[145]1882.McCabe,New York, ch. xxxiv., 509.Gilt-dubber, a hotel thief.3. (thieves’).—Formerly a pick-lock or skeleton key; now a crow-bar. For synonyms,seeJemmy.1671.R. Head,English Rogue, Pt. 1, ch. v., p. 50 (1874).Gilt, a pick-lock.1724.E. Coles,Eng. Dict.Gilt,c.a pick-lock.1839.W. H. Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard, p. 183 (ed. 1840). We shall have the whole village upon us while you’re striking the jigger. Use thegilt, man!To take the gilt off the gingerbread,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To destroy an illusion; to discount heavily.1884.Hawley Smart,From Post to Finish, p. 171. You see we had a rattling good year all round last, bar the Dancing Master. Hetook the gilt off the gingerbreadconsiderably.Gilt-dubber,seegilt, sense 2.Gilt-edged,adj.(American).—First-class; the best of its kind; a latter-day superlative. For synonyms,seeA1 andFizzing.c.1889.Chicago Tribune(quoted inSlang, Jargon, and Cant). He’s agilt-edgedidiot to play the game.1891.Standard, 18 June, p. 2, c. 1. ‘Gilt-edgedmutton’ is the latest of glorified and ‘boomed’ American products.1891.Tit Bits, 8 Aug., p. 286, c. 2. Another accomplishment, peculiar to thegilt-edgedacademy, is learning to eat asparagus, oranges, grapes, etc.Gilter,seegilt, sense 2.Gilt-tick,subs.(costermongers’). Gold.Gimbal-(orgimber-)Jawed,adj.(common).—Loquacious; talkingnineteen to the dozen(q.v.). [Gimbals are a combination of rings for free suspension; hence applied to persons the joints of whose jaws are loose in speech.]Gimcrack(Gincrack, orJimcrack),subs.(old).—1. A showy simpleton, male or female; adandy(q.v.).1618.BeaumontandFletcher,Loyal Subject, iv., 3. These are finegimcracks; hey, here comes another, a flagon full of wine in his hand.1637.Fletcher,Elder Brother, iii., 3. You are a handsome and a sweet young lady, And ought to have a handsome man yoked to ye. An understanding too; this is agimcrackThat can get nothing but new fashions on you.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Canting Crew.Gimcrack, a spruce wench.1706.Mrs. Centlivre,Basset Table, II.,Works(1872), i., 122. The philosophicalgimcrack.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.2. (colloquial).—A showy trifle; anything pretty to look at but of very little worth.1632.ChapmanandShirley,The Ball, Act iv.Lu.There remains, To take away one sample.Wi.Anothergimcrack?1678.Butler,Hudibras, pt. 3, ch. i. Rifled all his pokes and fobs.Cf.,gimcracks, whims, and jiggumbobs.1698–1700.Ward,London Spy, pt. 7, p. 148. I suppose there being little else to lose except scenes, machines, or some suchjim-cracks.1843.Thackeray,Irish Sketch Book, ch. i. There was the harp of Brian Boru, and the sword of some one else, and other cheap oldgimcrackswith their corollary of lies.1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 63. Such rum-lookinggimcracks, my pippin.3. (provincial).—A handy man; ajack-of-all-trades(q.v.).1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Agimcrackalso means a person who has a turn for mechanical contrivances.[146]4. (venery).—The femalepudendum. [A play on sense 2, andcrack, (q.v.).] For synonym,seeMonosyllable.Adj.(colloquial).—Trivial; showy; worthless.1855.Thackeray,Newcomes, ch. ix. No shops so beautiful to look at as the Brightongimcrackshops, and the fruit shops, and the market.1891.W. C. Russell,An Ocean Tragedy, p. 30. Soberly clothed with nothing moregimcrackin the way of finery upon him than a row of waistcoat-buttons.1892.Tit Bits, 19 Mar., p. 425 c. 2. A large cabinet or wardrobe, beautifully carved, and very substantial, nogimcrackwork.Gimcrackery,subs.(colloquial).—The world ofgimcrack(q.v.).1884.A. Forbes, inEng. Illustr. Mag., Jan., p. 230. The inner life of the Empire was a strange mixture of rottenness andgimcrackery.Gimlet-eye,subs.(common).—A squint-eye; apiercer(q.v.). Fr.:des yeux en trou de pine.Gimlet-eyed,adj.(common).—Squinting, or squinny-eyed; cock-eyed. As in the old rhyme: ‘Gimlet eye, sausage nose, Hip awry, bandy toes.’1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gimmer,subs.(Scots’).—An old woman. A variant of ‘cummer.’Gin,subs.(Australian).—An Australian native woman.1857.Kingsley,Two Years Ago, ch. xiii. An Australian settler’s wife bestows on some poor slavinggina cast-off French bonnet.1890.Hume Nisbet,Bail Up!, p. 30.2. (Australian).—An old woman. For synonyms,seeGeezer.Gin-and-gospel Gazette,subs. phr.(journalists’).—TheMorning Advertiser: as the organ of the Licensed Victualling and Church of England party. Also theTap-tubandbeer-and-bible gazette.Gin-and-Tidy,adv. phr.(American).—Decked out in ‘best bib and tucker.’ A pun on ‘neat spirits.’Gin-crawl,subs.(common).—Atipple(q.v.) on gin.1892.A. Chevalier, ‘The Little Nipper.’ I used to do agin crawlev’rynight, An’ very, very often come ’ome tight.Gingambobs(orJiggumbobs),subs.(common).—1. Toys; baubles.1690. B. E.Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.2. (venery).—The testicles; alsothingambobs. For synonyms,seeCods.Ginger,subs.(common).—1. A fast, showy horse; a beast that looksfigged(q.v.).1859.Notes and Queries, 17 Dec. p. 493. Agingeris a showy fast horse.2. (common).—A red-haired person;carrots(q.v.). [Whence the phrase (venery) ‘Black for beauty,gingerfor pluck.’]1885.Miss TennantinEng. Illustrated Magazine, June, p. 605. The policemen are well known to the boys, and appropriately named by them. There is ‘Jumbo,’ too stout to run;ginger, the red-haired.3. (common).—Spirit; dash;go(q.v.).To want ginger= to lack energy andpluck(q.v.).1888.The World, 13 May. You will remark that your spinal column is requiring a hinge, and that considerablegingeris departing from your resolution to bear up and enjoy yourself.[147]1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody of Nowhere, p. 124. If father objects send him to me, I’ll take thegingerout of him in short order.1892.R. L. StevensonandL. Osbourne,The Wrecker; p. 207. Give herginger, boys.Adj.(common).—Red-haired;foxy(q.v.);judas-haired(q.v.). Alsoginger-pated,ginger-hackled, andgingery.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Red-haired; a term borrowed from the cock-pit, where red cocks are calledgingers.1839.H. Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard, ch. xii. Somebody may be on the watch—perhaps that oldginger-hackledJew.1852.Dickens,Bleak House, ch. xix., p. 160. The very learned gentleman who has cooled the natural heat of hisgingerycomplexion in pools and fountains of law, until he has become great in knotty arguments for term-time.1878.M. E. Braddon,Cloven Foot, ch. iv. The landlady was a lean-looking widow, with a false front ofgingerycurls.Gingerbread,subs.(old).—1. Money:e.g., ‘He has thegingerbread’ = he is rich.1690. B. E.Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1834.Ainsworth,Rookwood. Your old dad had thegingerbread.1864.Standard, 13 Dec. We do not find … the wordgingerbreadused for money, as we have heard it both before and within the last six months. The origin of the use of the word may probably be the old fairy legends wherein the coin obtained over night from the elves was usually found in the morning to have turned into little gingerbread cakes.2. (colloquial).—Brummagem(q.v.); showy, but worthless ware.Adj.(colloquial).—Showy but worthless; tinsel. Fr.,en pain d’épice.Gingerbread work(nautical) = carved and gilded decorations;gingerbread quarters(nautical) = luxurious living.1757.Smollett,Compendium of Voyages and Travels. The rooms are too small and too much decorated with carving and gilding, which is a kind ofgingerbreadwork.To take the gilt off the gingerbread.Seegilt.Gingerly,adj.andadv.(old: now recognised).—Asadj., delicate; fastidious; dainty; asadv., with great care; softly.1533.Udal,Floures for Latine Spekynge. We stayghe and prolonge our goyng, with a nyce or tendre and softe, delicate, orgingerlypace.c.1563.Jacke Jugeler, p. 40 (ed. Grosart). We used to call her at home Dame Coye, a pretiegingerliepice [piece].1592.Nashe,Pierce Penilesse, inWks., ii., 32. That lookes as simperingly as if she were besmeared, and sits it asgingerlyas if she were dancing the Canaries.1611.Chapman,May-Day, Act iii., p. 294 (Plays, 1874). Come, come,gingerly; for God’s sake,gingerly.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario,q.v.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v. Gently, softly, easily.1759–67.Sterne,Tristram Shandy, vol. V., ch. v. My mother was going verygingerlyin the dark.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. To gogingerlyto work,i.e., to attempt a thing gently, or cautiously.1874.Mrs. H. Wood,Johnny Ludlow, 1 S. 12, p. 207. The Squire went ingingerly, as if he had been treading on a spiked ploughshare.Ginger-pop,subs.(colloquial).—1. Ginger-beer.2. (rhyming).—A policeman; aslop(q.v.).1887.Dagonet,Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, c. 3. Ere her bull-dog I could stop, She had called aginger-pop.Ginger-snap,subs.(American).—A hot-tempered person, especially one with carrotty hair.[148]Gingham,subs.(common).—An umbrella; specifically one of this material. For synonyms,seeMushroom.1868.Miss Braddon,Trail of the Serpent, Bk. I., ch. vii. Mr. Peters therefore took immediate possession by planting his honestginghamin a corner of the room.1889.Sportsman, 2 Feb. It would really put a premium on the many little mistakes of ownership concerningginghamsat present so common.Gingle-boy,subs.(old).—A coin; latterly a gold piece. AlsoGingler.SeeActualandCanary.1622.MassingerandDekker,Virgin Martyr, ii., 2. The sign of thegingleboyshangs at the door of our pockets.Gingumbobs.SeeGingambobs.Ginicomtwig,verb.(venery).—To copulate. For synonyms,seeRide.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes,Scuotere il pellicione.Toginicomtwigor occupie a woman.Gin-lane(orTrap),subs.(common).—1. The throat. For synonyms,seeGutter-alley.Gin-trap, also = the mouth. For synonyms,seePotato-trap.1827.Egan,Anecdotes of the Turf, p. 67. Never again could … he feel his ivories loose within hisgin-trap.2. (common).—Generic for the habit of drunkenness.1839.Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard[1889], p. 8. Let me advise you on no account to fly to strong waters for consolation, Joan. One nail drives out another, it’s true; but the worst nail you can employ is a coffin nail.Gin Lane’sthe nearest road to the churchyard.Gin-mill,subs.(American).—A drinking saloon. For synonyms,seeLush-crib.1872.Belgravia, Dec. ‘A Presidential Election.’ Then goes off to rejoin his comrades, to adjourn to the nearestgin-mill.Ginnified,subs.(common).—Dazed, or stupid, with liquor.Ginnums,subs.(common).—An old woman: especially one fond of drink.Ginny,subs.(old).—A housebreaker’s tool;seequot., 1754.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1754.Scoundrels’ Dict.An instrument to lift up a grate or grating, to steal what is in the window. ‘The ninth is aginny, to lift up the grate, If he sees but the Lurry, with his Hooks he will bait.’1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gin-penny,subs.(costermongers’).—Extra profit, generally spent in drink.Gin-slinger,subs.(common).—A gin-drinker. For synonyms,seeLushington.Gin-spinner,subs.(old).—A distiller; a dealer in spirituous liquors.Cf.,Ale-spinner.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1827.Egan,Anecdotes of the Turf, p. 179. Just as she was about to toddle to thegin-spinner’sfor the ould folk and lisp out for a quartern of Max.1888.F. Green, inNotes and Queries, 7 S., vi., 153. I have always understood that agin spinneris a distiller who makes gin, but could never find out why so called.Gin-twist,subs.(common).—A drink composed of gin and sugar, with lemon and water.1841.Comic Almanac, p. 271 What, for instance, butgin-twistcould have brought Oliver Twist to light?[149]Gin Up,verb.(American).—To work hard; to make things lively orhum(q.v.). For synonyms,seeWire in.1887.Francis,Saddle and Moccassin. They wereginningherup, that’s a fact.Gip,subs.(American thieves’).—1. A thief. 2. Also (Cambridge University) a college servant.SeeGyp. For synonyms,seeThieves.Girl,subs.(common).—1. A prostitute;in. pl.= the stock in trade of a brothel.SeeBarrack Hack,Tart, andGay. Fr.,fille.
2. (venery).—To receive the sexual embrace: of women only.To get out of bed on the wrong side,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be testy or cross-grained. [A corruption of an old saying, ‘To rise on the right side is accounted lucky’; hence the reverse meant trials to temper, patience, and luck.]1607.Marston,What You Will. Yourise on your right sideto-day, marry.1608.Machin,Dumb Knight, iv., 1. Sure I said my prayers,ris’d on my right side, Wash’d hands and eyes, put on my[136]girdle last; Sure I met no splea-footed baker, No hare did cross me, nor no bearded witch, Nor other ominous sign.1614.Terence in English.C.What doth shee keepe house alreadie?D.Alreadie.C.O good God!;we rose on the right sideto-day.1647.BeaumontandFletcher, i.Women Pleased. Yourose o’ your right side.1890.Globe, 15 May, p. 2, col. 2. Some of them had—if we may employ such a vulgar expression—got out of bed on the wrong side.To get out(orRound),verb. phr.(racing).—To back a horse against which one has previously laid; toHedge(q.v.).1884.Hawley Smart,From Post to Finish, p. 318. He had an idea Johnson was this time cleverly working a very well authorised commission, and that he personally had taken more than one opportunity of what is termedgetting out.To get set,verb. phr.(cricketing).—1. To warm to one’s work at the wicket, and collar the bowling; to get one’s eye well in.To get there,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To attain one’s object; to be successful;to make one’s jack(q.v.);to get there with both feet= to be very successful.1887.Francis,Saddle and Mocassin. He said as he’d been gambling, and was two hundred dollars ahead of the town. Hegot there with both feetat starting.1888.New York Herald, 29 July. Although not a delegate hegot thereall the same.2. (common).—To get drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.3. (venery).—To enjoy the sexual favour.To get through,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To pass an examination; to accomplish.1853.Bradley,Verd. Green, II. ch. xii. So you see, Giglamps, I’m safe toget through.To get up and dust,verb. phr.(American).—To depart hastily. For synonyms,seeSkedaddleandAmputate.To get up behind(orget behind)a man,verb. phr.(common).—To endorse or back a bill.1880.Life in a Debtor’s Prison, p. 87. In other cases he figured as the drawer, or simply as endorser. This, Mr. Whipper described asgetting up behind.To get up the mail,verb. phr.(thieves’).—To find money (as counsels’ fees, etc.) for defence.1889.ClarksonandRichardson,Police, 322, s.v.[Getenters into many other combinations.Seeback teeth;bagorsack;bead;beans;beat;big birdandgoose;big head;billet;bit;boat;bolt;books;bulge;bullet;bull’s feather;crocketts;danderandmonkey;dark;drop;eye;flannels;flint;game;grand bounce;gravel-rash;grind;grindstone;hand;hang;hat;head;hiporhop;home;horn;hot;jack;keen;length ofone’sfoot;measure;mitten;needle;religion;rise;run;scot,swot, orscrape;set;shut of;silk;snuff;straight;sun;ticket of leave;wool;wrong box.]Getaway,subs.(American thieves’).—A locomotive or train; apuffer(q.v.).Getter.Asure getter,subs. phr.(Scots).—A procreant male with a great capacity for fertilization.[137]Get-up,subs.(colloquial).—1. Dress; constitution and appearance; disguise.SeeGet-up,verb, sense 1.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xiv. Is that killingget upentirely for your benefit, John? I asked.1865.G. A. Sala,Trip to Barbary, ch. x. Altogether theget upof a Mauresqueen promenadeis livelier and smarter than that of a Turkish woman.1866.G. Eliot,Felix Holt, ch. xii. The graceful, well-appointed Mr. Christian, who sneered at Scales about hisget up, having to walk back to the house with only one tail to his coat.1882.Graphic, 9 Dec., p. 643, c. 2. Comicgets up, which will make the house roar presently, are elaborated with the business air of a judge inbanc, or a water-rate collector.1889.Mirror, 26 Aug., p. 2, c. 1. I cannot, however, congratulate F. C. G. on his sketch of Blowitz; it isn’t much like the great man, and theget upis quite too absurd.1890.Daily Telegraph, 25 Feb., p. 7. col. 7. Dressed as acopurchic, and, giving himself out as an Italian count—thinking to entrap some Transatlantic heiress by his title, fascinating appearance, and gorgeousget up.Verb. phr.(colloquial).—(1). To prepare (a part, a paper, a case); (2) to arrange (a concert); (3) to dress (asgot up regardless,to the nines,to the knocker,to kill,within an inch of one’s life); (4) to disguise (as a sailor, a soldier, Henry VIII., a butcher, a nun).SeealsoGet into.1828.L. Hunt,Essays(Camelot ed.), p. 13. The pocket-books that now contain any literature aregot up, as the phrase is, in the most unambitious style.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xviii. Three very gentleman-like, good-looking men,got upto the utmost extent of hunting splendour.1864.Eton School Days, ch. xviii., p. 207. He felt confident in his power ofgetting upso that no one would recognise him.1866.New York Home Journal, Jan. While that admirable old dame, Nature, has been strangely neglectful of much which might be conducive to our comfort, she hasgotten up, regardless of expense, a few articles which are good for some purposes, as the witty Hood has told us.1871.London Figaro, 11 Mar. It isgot upvery much in the style of the Paris journals, and is very inferior compared with any respectable journal in England.1889.Polytechnic Magazine, 24 Oct., p. 261. He came speciallygot upin piebald trousers.1892.Chevalier.‘The Little Nipper.’ I’ve knowed ’im take a girl on six feet tall; ’E’dgit ’imself updossy, Say ‘I’m goin’ out wi’ Flossie.’G.H.SeeGeorge Horne.Ghastly,adj.andadv.(colloquial).—Very: a popular intensitive;Cf.,Awful,Bloody,Fucking.Ghost,subs.(common).—One who secretly does artistic or literary work for another person taking the credit and receiving the price. [The term was frequently used during the trial of Lawesv.Belt in 188(?).]Cf.,devil.1890.Daily Telegraph, 8 Feb. The sculptor’sghostis conjured up from the vasty deep of byegone lawsuits.1892.National Observer, vii., 327.Would not the unkind describe your ‘practical man’ as aghost?Verb.(common).—To prowl; to spy upon;to shadow(q.v.).The ghost walks(ordoes not walk)phr.(theatrical).—There is (or is not) money in the treasury.1853.Household Words, No. 183. When no salaries are forthcoming theghost doesn’t walk.[138]1883.Referee, 24 June, p. 3, c. 2. An Actor’s Benevolent Fund box placed on the treasurer’s desk every day whenthe ghost walkswould get many an odd shilling or sixpence put into it.1885.The Stage, p. 112. The rogues seldom appear at a loss for a plausible story when it is time for theghost to walk.Ibid.The next daythe ghost declines to walk.1889.J. C. Colman(inSlang, Jargon, and Cant), p. 405.Ghost-walking, a term originally applied by an impecunious stroller in a sharing company to the operation of ‘holding the treasury,’ or paying the salaries, which has become a stock facetiæ among all kinds and descriptions of actors. Instead of enquiring whether the treasury is open, they generally say—‘Has theghost walked?’ or ‘What, has this thing appeared again?’ (Shakspeare).1890.Illustrated Bits, 29 Mar., p. 11, c. 1. And a few nights with empty bencheslaid the ghostcompletely. It could not evenwalkto the tune of quarter salaries.The ghost of a chance,subs. phr.(colloquial).—The faintest likelihood, or the slightest trace:e.g., He hasn’tthe ghost of a chance.1891.Sportsman, 26 Mar. He did not givethe ghost of a chance.Ghoul,subs.(American.)—1. A spy; specifically a man who preys on such married women as addict themselves to assignation houses.2. (journalistic).—A newspaper chronicler of the smallest private tittle-tattle.Gib,subs.(colloquial).—1. Gibraltar. Once a penal station: whence—2. A gaol.1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 221. I did a lagging of seven, and was at thegibthree out of it.1892.Pall Mall Gazette, 23 Mar., p. 6, c. 1. ‘Stormy Weather atgib.’ The weather here has been fearful; 51 inches of rain have been registered, and the land for miles round Gibraltar is submerged.To hang one’s gib,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To pout.SeeJib.Gibberish(orGebberish,Gibberidge,Gibrige, etc.),subs.(old: now recognised).—Originally the lingo of gipsies, beggars, etc. Now, any kind of inarticulate nonsense. [Fromgibber, a variant ofJabber.]SeeCant,Slang,Pedlar’s French, etc.1594.Nashe,Unf. Traveller, in wks., v., 68. That all cried out upon him mightily in theirgibrige, lyke a companie of beggers.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes.Gergare, to speak fustian, pedlers french,or rogues language, orgibbrish.1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Jargon,gibridgefustian language,pedler’sFrench, a barbarus jangling.1638.H. Shirley,Martyr’d Souldier, Act iii., Sc. 4. Feele my pulse once again and tell me, Doctor, Tell me in tearmes that I may understand,—I doe not love yourgibberish,—tell me honestly Where the Cause lies, and give a Remedy.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.).Gibberish(s.) an unintelligible jargon, or confused way of speaking, used by the gipsies, beggars, etc., to disguise their wicked designs; also any discourse where words abound more than sense.1748.Smollett,Rod. Random, ch. xxx. He repeated somegibberishwhich by the sound seemed to be Irish.1817.Scott,Rob Roy, ch. viii. Since that d——d clerk of mine has taken hisgibberishelsewhere.1850.D. Jerrold,The Catspaw,Act i. Odds and ends … writ down in such a kind ofgibberishthat I can’t make out one of ’em.1858.G. Eliot,Mr. Gilfit’s Love Story, ch. iv. It’ll learn to speak summat better norgibberish, an’ be brought up i’ the true religion.1892.R. L. StevensonandL. Osbourne,The Wrecker, p. 129. It was Fo’c’s’le Jack that piped and drawled his ungrammaticalgibberish.[139]Gibble-Gabble,subs.(colloquial).—Nonsense;gibberish(q.v.). [A reduplication ofgabble(q.v.).]1600.Dekker,Shoemaker’s Holiday, in wks. (1873) i., 21. Hee’s some uplandish workeman, hire him good master, That I may learne somegibble gabble, ’twill make us worke the faster.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.).Gibble-gabble(s), silly, foolish, idle talk.Gib-cat,subs.(old).—A tom-cat. [An abbreviation of Gilbert = O. Fr.:Tibert, the cat in the fable of Reynard the Fox.]1360.Chaucer,Romaunt of the Rose, 6204 (Thibert le Casis rendered bygibbe, our cat).1598.Shakspeare,1 Henry IV., Act i., Sc. 2. I am as melancholy as agib-cat.1614.Jonson,Bartholomew Fair, i., 1. Before I endure such another day with him, I’ll be drawn with a goodgib-catthrough the great pond at home.1663.Rump Songs.‘Rump Carbonadoed,’ ii., 71. As if they had less wit and grace thangib-cats.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gibe,verb.(American).—To go well with; to be acceptable.SeeGee.Gibel,verb.(thieves’).—To bring.1837.Disraeli,Venetia, bk. i., ch. xiv.Gibelthe chive, bring the knife.Gib-face,subs.(colloquial).—A heavy jowl; anugly-mug(q.v.).Cf.,to hang one’s gib.Giblets,subs.(common).—1. The intestines generally; themanifold(q.v.).Cf.trouble-giblets.1864.Browning,Dramatis Personæ,‘Flight of the Duchess.’ Is pumped up briskly through the main ventricle, And floats me genially round thegiblets.2. (colloquial).—A fat man;forty-guts(q.v.). AlsoDuke of Giblets.To join giblets,verb. phr.(venery).—To copulate. Alsoto haveordo a bit of giblet-pie. For synonyms,seeRide. Hence to cohabit as husband and wife;to live tally.Cf.,plaster of warm guts.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1887.Notes and Queries, 7 S., iv., 511. ‘To join giblets.’—This expression may occasionally be heard in this district, among the lowest and vulgarest, and has a very offensive meaning.To fret one’s giblets,verb. phr.—SeeFret.Gibraltar,subs.(American).—A party stronghold:e.g., theGibraltarofDemocracy.—Norton.Gibson(orSir John Gibson),subs.(old coachbuilders’).—A rest to support the body of a building coach.Gibus,subs.(colloquial).—1. An opera, or crush hat. Fr.,un accordéon. [From the name of the inventor.]1867.Jas. Greenwood,Unsent. Journeys, iii., 21. West-End aristocrats, with spotless jean coats andGibushats.1871.Figaro, 2 Sept. Much fun may be made by wearing aGibus, and collapsing it at the moment of contact with the funnel.1885.Punch, 4 Apr., p. 160. Giving his comic, shiny, curly-brimmed hat to the swell who couldn’t by any possible chance have mistaken it for his ownGibus.1887.Atkin,House Scraps, p. 144. TheirGibushats are cock’d awry.[140]Giddy,adj.(colloquial).—Flighty; wanton:e.g.,to play the giddy goat= to live a fast life; to be happy-go-lucky.1892.Ally Sloper, 19 Mar., p. 91, c. 2. Fanny Robinson was flighty; sheplayed the giddy ox—I mean heifer.Giffle-gaffle,subs.(old).—Nonsense; a variant ofgibble-gabble(q.v.).1787.Grose,Prov. Glossary.Giff-gaff, unpremeditated discourse.Gif-gaf(orGiff-gaff),subs.(Scots’).—A bargain on equal terms. Whence the proverb:Gif-gafmaks guid friens. Fr.:Passe-moi la casse et je t’enverrai la senne.Gift,subs.(colloquial).—1. Anything, lightly gained or easily won.2. (common).—A white speck on the finger nails, supposed to portend a gift.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.3. (printers’).—SeeGift-house.As full of gifts as a brazen horse of farts,phr.(old).—Mean; miserly; disinclined topart(q.v.).1811Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.Gift of the Gab.—SeeGab.Gift-house(orGift),subs.(printers’).—A club; a house of call; specifically for the purpose of finding employment, or providing allowances for members.Gig(Gigg,Gigge),subs.(old).—1. a wanton; a mistress; a flighty girl.Cf.,Giglet.1373.Chaucer,House of Fame, iii. 851. This house was also ful ofgygges.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew. A younggig, a wanton lass.1780.D’Arbley,Diary, etc., (1876), i., 286. Charlotte L—— called, and the littlegigtold … of the domestic life she led in her family, and made them all ridiculous, without meaning to make herself so.1825.Planché,SuccessinExtravaganzas(1879) I., 26. He! he! What agigyou look in that hat and feather!1832.MacaulayinLife, byTrevelyan(1884), ch. v., p. 188. Be you Foxes, be you Pitts, You must write to silly chits, Be you Tories, be you Whigs, You must write to sad younggigs.2. (old).—A jest; a piece of nonsense; anything fanciful or frivolous. Hence, generally, in contempt.1590.Nashe,Pasquil’s Apologie, in wks. Vol. I., p. 234. A right cutte of the worde, withoutegiggesor fancies of haereticall and newe opinions.1793.Butt,Poems.… Fograms, quizzes, treats, and bores, andgigs, Were held in some account with ancient prigs.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xiv. Such a set ofgigs, my dear, I never saw in my life; large underbred horses, and not a good-looking man amongst them.3. (old).—The nose. For synonyms,seeConk.To snitchell the gig= to pull the nose.Grunter’s gig= a hog’s snout.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.4. (venery).—The femalepudendum. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable. [Possibly fromgig= a top,i.e., a toy; possibly, too, from It.giga= afiddle(q.v.); but seepostsense 8.]1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.[141]5. (old: now recognised).—A light two-wheeled vehicle drawn by one horse.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1809.Windham,Speech, 25 May. Let the former riders ingigsand whiskeys, and one horsed carriages continue to ride in them.6. (old).—A door.SeeGigger.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue. It is all bob, now let’s dub thegiggof the case: now the coast is clear, let us break open the door of the house.7. (Eton).—A fool; an overdressed person. For synonyms,seeSammy-soft.1797.Colman,Heir at Law, iv., 3.Dick.—What a damn’dgigyou look like.Pangloss.—Agig! umph! that’s an Eton phrase—the Westminsters call it Quiz.1870.Athenæum, 16 Apr. He would now be what Eton used to call agig, and Westminster a Quiz.8. (old).—Fun; a frolic; a spree. [Possibly from Fr.:gigue= a lively dance movement.Cf.,gigue et jon= a Bacchanalian exclamation of sailors. In Florio, too,frottolare= ‘to singgigges, rounds, or … wanton verses.’]Full of gig= full of laughter, ripe for mischief.1811.Moore,Twopenny Post-bag, Letter 3. We were all in highgig—Roman punch and tokay travelled round, till our heads travelled just the same way.1820.Randall,Diary. In search of lark, or some deliciousgig, The mind delights on, when ’tis in prime twig.1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 3. I hope we shall have many a bit ofgigtogether.1888.Besant,Fifty Years Ago, p. 134. A laughter-loving lass of eighteen who dearly loved a bit ofgig.9. (old).—The mouth. For synonyms,seePotato-trap.1871.Finish to Tom and Jerry, p. 175(ed. 1872). The bit of myrtle in hisgig.10. (old).—A farthing. Formerlygrig(q.v.).11.(American).—SeePolicy Dealing.Verb.(old).—To hamstring.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.To gigga Smithfield hank, to hamstring an overdrove ox.By Gigs!intj.(old).—A mild and silly oath.SeeOaths.1551.W. Still,Gammer Gurton’s Needle, ii., 51. Chad a foule turne now of late, chill tell it you,by gigs!Gigamaree,subs.(American).—A thing of little worth; a pretty but useless toy; agimcrack(q.v.).1848.Jones,Sketches of Travel, p. 9. Byin’ fineries and northerngigamareesof one kind or another.Ibid.I ax’d the captain what sort of agigamareehe had got up there for a flag.Gigantomachize,verb.(old).—To rise in revolt against one’s betters. Gr.,Gigantomachia= the War of the Giants against the Gods. [Probably a coinage of Ben Jonson’s.]1599.Jonson,Every Man Out, Act v., 4. Slight, fed with it the whoreson, strummel-patched, goggle-eyed grumble-dores would havegigantomachizedtheir Maker.Gigger,subs.(tailors’).—1. A sewing machine. (In allusion to noise and movement).2.SeeJigger.Giggles-nest.Have you found a giggles-nest?phr.(old).—Asked of a persontittering, or one who laughs immoderately and senselessly.[142]Gig-lamps,subs.(common).—1. Spectacles. For synonyms,seeBarnacles.1848.Bradley, inLetter to J. C. H.Gig-lamps(certainly a university term. I first heard it in 1848 or 1849, long before Mr. Verdant Green was born or thought of).1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 140. You with thegig-lamps, throw us your cigar.1887.Punch, 30 July, p. 45. Jack’s a straw-thatched young joker ingig-lamps.1892.F. Anstey,Voces Populi. ‘At the Tudor Exhibition.’ Stop, though, suppose shehasspotted me? Never can tell withgiglamps.2. (common).—One who wears spectacles; afour eyes(q.v.). [Popularised by Verdant Green.]Gigler(orGiglet,Goglet,Gigle,Gig),subs.(old).—A wanton; a mistress.Giglet(West of England) = a giddy, romping girl; and in Salop a flighty person is called agiggle.Cf.,Gig, sense 1.1533.Udal,Floures for Latine Spekynge, fo. 101. What is the matter, foolishgiglotte? What meanest thou? Whereat laughest thou?1567.Harman,Caveat, leaf 22,back. Therefore let us assemble secretly into the place where he hath appoynted to meet thisgyleotthat is at your house.1603.Shakspeare,Measure for Measure, v., 1. Let him speak no more: away with thosegiglotstoo, and with the other confederate companion.1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Gadrouillette, minx,gigle, flirt.1620.Massienger,Fatal Dowry, Act. iii. If this be The recompence of striving to preserve A wantongigglethonest, very shortly ’Twill make all mankind pandars.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue.Gigglers, wanton women.Adj.(old).—Loose in word and deed. Alsogiglet-like, andgiglet-wise= like a wanton.1598.Shakspeare,1 Henry IV., Act v., Sc. 1. Young Talbot was not born To be the pillage of agiglotwench.1600.Fairfax,Jerusalem Delivered, vi., 72. That thou wilt gad by night ingiglet-wise, Amid thine armed foes to seek thy shame.Gild,verb.(old).—To make drunk; to flush with drink.1609.Shakspeare,Tempest, Act v., Sc. 1. This grand liquor that hathgildedthem.1620.Fletcher,Chances, iv., 3. Is she not drunk, too? A littlegildedo’er, sir.To gild the pill,phr.(colloquial).—To say, or do, unpleasant things as gently as may be; to impose upon; tobamboozle(q.v.).Gilded Rooster,subs. phr.(American).—A man of importance; ahowling swell(q.v.); sometimesthe gilded rooster on the top of the steeple.Cf.,big-bug;big dog of the tanyard, etc.1888.New York Herald.We admit that as a metropolis Chicago is thegilded rooster on top of the steeple, but evengilded roostershave no right to the whole corn bin.Gilderoy’s Kite.To be hung higher than gilderoy’s kite,verb. phr.(old).—To be punished more severely than the very worst criminals. ‘The greater the crime the higher the gallows’ was at one time a practical legal axiom. Hence, out of sight; completely gone.Giles’ Greek.SeeSt. Giles’ Greek.[143]Gilguy,subs.(nautical).—Anything which happens to have slipped the memory; equivalent towhat’s-his-nameorthingamytight.Gilkes,subs.(old).—Skeleton keys.1610.Rowlands,Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874).Gilkesor the Gigger, false keyes for the doore or picklockes.Gill(orJill),subs.(old).—1. A girl; (2) a sweetheart:e.g., ‘every Jack must have hisGill’; (3) a wanton, a strumpet (an abbreviation ofgillian). For synonyms,seeJomerandTitter.1586–1606.Warner,Albion’s England, bk. vii., ch. 37. The simplestgillor knave.1598.Florio,A Worlde of Wordes,Palandrina, a common queane, a harlot, a strumpet, agill.1620.Percy,Folio MSS., p. 104. There is neuer a Jacke forgill.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.2. (common).—a drink; ago(q.v.).1785.Burns,Scots Drink. Haill breeks, a scone, andwhisky gill.3.in. pl.‘g’ hard (colloquial).—The mouth or jaws; the face.SeePotato-trapandDial.1622.Bacon,Historia Naturalis. Redness about the cheeks andgills.1632.Jonson,Magnetic Lady, i. He … draws all the parish wills, Designs the legacies, and strokes thegillsof the chief mourners.b.1738.Wolcot,Pindar’s Works(1809), i., 8. Whether you look all rosy round thegills, Or hatchet-fac’d like starving cats so lean.1820.Lamb,Elia(Two Races of Men). What a careless, even deportment hath your borrower! what rosygills!1855.Thackeray,Newcomes, ch. viii. Binnie, as brisk and rosy about thegillsas chanticleer, broke out in a morning salutation.1884.Punch.He went a bit red in thegills.4.in. pl.(common).—A very large shirt collar; alsostick-upsandsideboards. Fr.:cache-bonbon-à-liqueur= a stick-up.1859.Sala,Twice Round the Clock, 6 p., in Part 7. With a red face, shaven to the superlative degree of shininess, withgillswhite and tremendous, with a noble white waistcoat.1884.Daily Telegraph, July 8, p. 5, c. 4. Lord Macaulay wore, to the close of his life, ‘stick-ups,’ orgills.To grease the gills.—verb.phr.(common).—To have a good meal;to wolf(q.v.).To look blue(orqueer, orgreen)about the gills,verb. phr.(common).—To be downcast or dejected; also to suffer from the effects of a debauch. Hence, conversely,to be rosy about the gills= to be cheerful.1836.M. Scott,Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. ii. Most of them were very white andblue in the gillswhen we sat down, and others of a dingy sort of whitey-brown, while they ogled the viands in a most suspicious manner.1892.G. Manville Fenn,Witness to the Deed, ch. ii. You look precious seedy.White about the gills.A cant(ordig)in the gills,phr.(pugilists’).—A punch in the face.SeeBang.Gill-flirt,subs.(old).—A wanton; a flirt. For synonyms,seeBarrack HackandTart.1598.Florio,A Worlde of Wordes.1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Gaultiere, a whore, punke, drab, queane,gill,flirt.[144]1690. B. E.,Dict, of the Cant. Crew, s.v. A proud minx.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.Gilly,subs.(American).—A fool. For synonyms,seeBuffleandCabbage-head.Gilly-gaupus,subs. phr.(Scots).—A tall loutish fellow.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gilt,subs.(popular).—1. Money. [Ger.:Geld; Du.:Geld.]English Synonyms.—Add to those underActual:—Charms; checks; cole or coal; coliander seeds; corn in Egypt; crap; darby; dots; ducats; gingerbread; kelter; lowie; lurries; moss; oil of palms; palm-oil; peck; plums; rhino; rivets; salt; sawdust; scad; screen; scuds; shigs; soap; spoon; steven; sugar; tea-spoons; tinie.French Synonyms.—Le galtos(popular);l’odeur de gousset(obsolete);l’onguent(= palm grease, Sp.,unguento; the simile is common to most languages);le morlingue(thieves’);la menouille(popular);le michon(thieves’: frommiche, a loaf,cf.,Loaver);les monacos(popular);le monarque(prostitutes’: primarily a five franc piece);le blé(= corn or loaver);les étoffes(thieves’).Spanish Synonyms.—La lana(= wool);la morusa(colloquial);la mosca(= the flies);lo numerario;la pelusa(= down);lo zurraco(colloquial);lo unguento de Mejico(= Mexican Grease);a’ toca teja(colloquial: ready money);caire.Italian Synonyms.—Cucchi;cuchieri;cucchielli;lugani.German Synonyms.—Fuchs(= fox: an allusion to the ruddy hue of gold pieces);fuxigorfuxern= golden, red;fuchsmelochener(= goldsmith);gipsorgyps(Viennese thieves’, from the Latin,gypsum);hora(= ready-money: from the Hebrewheren);kall(Han: especially small change: from Heb.kal= lowly light);kis,kies,kiss(applied both to money in general and the receptacle or purse in which it is carried);lowe,love(Han.);mepaie(from the Fr.,payer)mesumme,linke mesumme(= counterfeit money);moos(from Heb.,mëo= a little stone);pich,picht, orpech;staub(= dust).1599.Shakspeare,Henry V., Act ii.Chorus.These corrupted men … have for thegiltof France (O guilt, indeed) Confirmed conspiracy.1714.Memoirs of John Hall(4th ed.), p. 9. And from thence conducted (provided he hasgilt) over the way to Hell.1885.Daily News, 25 May, p. 3, c. 1. Disputatious like mobs grouped together to discuss whether Charrington or Crowder had the mostgilt.2.subs.(old).—A thief; a pick-lock; alsogilt-orrum-dubber,gilter, etc.1669.Nicker NickedinHarl. Misc.(ed. Park), ii., 108 (given in list of names of thieves).1673.Character of a Quack Astrologer.For that purpose he maintains as strict a correspondence withgiltsand lifters.1676.Warning for Housekeepers, p. 3. Thegilteris one that hath all sorts of picklocks and false keys.1680.Cotton,Complete Gamester, p. 333. Shoals of muffs, hectors, setters,gilts, pads, biters, etc. … may all pass under the general appellation of snobs.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.[145]1882.McCabe,New York, ch. xxxiv., 509.Gilt-dubber, a hotel thief.3. (thieves’).—Formerly a pick-lock or skeleton key; now a crow-bar. For synonyms,seeJemmy.1671.R. Head,English Rogue, Pt. 1, ch. v., p. 50 (1874).Gilt, a pick-lock.1724.E. Coles,Eng. Dict.Gilt,c.a pick-lock.1839.W. H. Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard, p. 183 (ed. 1840). We shall have the whole village upon us while you’re striking the jigger. Use thegilt, man!To take the gilt off the gingerbread,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To destroy an illusion; to discount heavily.1884.Hawley Smart,From Post to Finish, p. 171. You see we had a rattling good year all round last, bar the Dancing Master. Hetook the gilt off the gingerbreadconsiderably.Gilt-dubber,seegilt, sense 2.Gilt-edged,adj.(American).—First-class; the best of its kind; a latter-day superlative. For synonyms,seeA1 andFizzing.c.1889.Chicago Tribune(quoted inSlang, Jargon, and Cant). He’s agilt-edgedidiot to play the game.1891.Standard, 18 June, p. 2, c. 1. ‘Gilt-edgedmutton’ is the latest of glorified and ‘boomed’ American products.1891.Tit Bits, 8 Aug., p. 286, c. 2. Another accomplishment, peculiar to thegilt-edgedacademy, is learning to eat asparagus, oranges, grapes, etc.Gilter,seegilt, sense 2.Gilt-tick,subs.(costermongers’). Gold.Gimbal-(orgimber-)Jawed,adj.(common).—Loquacious; talkingnineteen to the dozen(q.v.). [Gimbals are a combination of rings for free suspension; hence applied to persons the joints of whose jaws are loose in speech.]Gimcrack(Gincrack, orJimcrack),subs.(old).—1. A showy simpleton, male or female; adandy(q.v.).1618.BeaumontandFletcher,Loyal Subject, iv., 3. These are finegimcracks; hey, here comes another, a flagon full of wine in his hand.1637.Fletcher,Elder Brother, iii., 3. You are a handsome and a sweet young lady, And ought to have a handsome man yoked to ye. An understanding too; this is agimcrackThat can get nothing but new fashions on you.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Canting Crew.Gimcrack, a spruce wench.1706.Mrs. Centlivre,Basset Table, II.,Works(1872), i., 122. The philosophicalgimcrack.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.2. (colloquial).—A showy trifle; anything pretty to look at but of very little worth.1632.ChapmanandShirley,The Ball, Act iv.Lu.There remains, To take away one sample.Wi.Anothergimcrack?1678.Butler,Hudibras, pt. 3, ch. i. Rifled all his pokes and fobs.Cf.,gimcracks, whims, and jiggumbobs.1698–1700.Ward,London Spy, pt. 7, p. 148. I suppose there being little else to lose except scenes, machines, or some suchjim-cracks.1843.Thackeray,Irish Sketch Book, ch. i. There was the harp of Brian Boru, and the sword of some one else, and other cheap oldgimcrackswith their corollary of lies.1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 63. Such rum-lookinggimcracks, my pippin.3. (provincial).—A handy man; ajack-of-all-trades(q.v.).1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Agimcrackalso means a person who has a turn for mechanical contrivances.[146]4. (venery).—The femalepudendum. [A play on sense 2, andcrack, (q.v.).] For synonym,seeMonosyllable.Adj.(colloquial).—Trivial; showy; worthless.1855.Thackeray,Newcomes, ch. ix. No shops so beautiful to look at as the Brightongimcrackshops, and the fruit shops, and the market.1891.W. C. Russell,An Ocean Tragedy, p. 30. Soberly clothed with nothing moregimcrackin the way of finery upon him than a row of waistcoat-buttons.1892.Tit Bits, 19 Mar., p. 425 c. 2. A large cabinet or wardrobe, beautifully carved, and very substantial, nogimcrackwork.Gimcrackery,subs.(colloquial).—The world ofgimcrack(q.v.).1884.A. Forbes, inEng. Illustr. Mag., Jan., p. 230. The inner life of the Empire was a strange mixture of rottenness andgimcrackery.Gimlet-eye,subs.(common).—A squint-eye; apiercer(q.v.). Fr.:des yeux en trou de pine.Gimlet-eyed,adj.(common).—Squinting, or squinny-eyed; cock-eyed. As in the old rhyme: ‘Gimlet eye, sausage nose, Hip awry, bandy toes.’1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gimmer,subs.(Scots’).—An old woman. A variant of ‘cummer.’Gin,subs.(Australian).—An Australian native woman.1857.Kingsley,Two Years Ago, ch. xiii. An Australian settler’s wife bestows on some poor slavinggina cast-off French bonnet.1890.Hume Nisbet,Bail Up!, p. 30.2. (Australian).—An old woman. For synonyms,seeGeezer.Gin-and-gospel Gazette,subs. phr.(journalists’).—TheMorning Advertiser: as the organ of the Licensed Victualling and Church of England party. Also theTap-tubandbeer-and-bible gazette.Gin-and-Tidy,adv. phr.(American).—Decked out in ‘best bib and tucker.’ A pun on ‘neat spirits.’Gin-crawl,subs.(common).—Atipple(q.v.) on gin.1892.A. Chevalier, ‘The Little Nipper.’ I used to do agin crawlev’rynight, An’ very, very often come ’ome tight.Gingambobs(orJiggumbobs),subs.(common).—1. Toys; baubles.1690. B. E.Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.2. (venery).—The testicles; alsothingambobs. For synonyms,seeCods.Ginger,subs.(common).—1. A fast, showy horse; a beast that looksfigged(q.v.).1859.Notes and Queries, 17 Dec. p. 493. Agingeris a showy fast horse.2. (common).—A red-haired person;carrots(q.v.). [Whence the phrase (venery) ‘Black for beauty,gingerfor pluck.’]1885.Miss TennantinEng. Illustrated Magazine, June, p. 605. The policemen are well known to the boys, and appropriately named by them. There is ‘Jumbo,’ too stout to run;ginger, the red-haired.3. (common).—Spirit; dash;go(q.v.).To want ginger= to lack energy andpluck(q.v.).1888.The World, 13 May. You will remark that your spinal column is requiring a hinge, and that considerablegingeris departing from your resolution to bear up and enjoy yourself.[147]1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody of Nowhere, p. 124. If father objects send him to me, I’ll take thegingerout of him in short order.1892.R. L. StevensonandL. Osbourne,The Wrecker; p. 207. Give herginger, boys.Adj.(common).—Red-haired;foxy(q.v.);judas-haired(q.v.). Alsoginger-pated,ginger-hackled, andgingery.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Red-haired; a term borrowed from the cock-pit, where red cocks are calledgingers.1839.H. Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard, ch. xii. Somebody may be on the watch—perhaps that oldginger-hackledJew.1852.Dickens,Bleak House, ch. xix., p. 160. The very learned gentleman who has cooled the natural heat of hisgingerycomplexion in pools and fountains of law, until he has become great in knotty arguments for term-time.1878.M. E. Braddon,Cloven Foot, ch. iv. The landlady was a lean-looking widow, with a false front ofgingerycurls.Gingerbread,subs.(old).—1. Money:e.g., ‘He has thegingerbread’ = he is rich.1690. B. E.Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1834.Ainsworth,Rookwood. Your old dad had thegingerbread.1864.Standard, 13 Dec. We do not find … the wordgingerbreadused for money, as we have heard it both before and within the last six months. The origin of the use of the word may probably be the old fairy legends wherein the coin obtained over night from the elves was usually found in the morning to have turned into little gingerbread cakes.2. (colloquial).—Brummagem(q.v.); showy, but worthless ware.Adj.(colloquial).—Showy but worthless; tinsel. Fr.,en pain d’épice.Gingerbread work(nautical) = carved and gilded decorations;gingerbread quarters(nautical) = luxurious living.1757.Smollett,Compendium of Voyages and Travels. The rooms are too small and too much decorated with carving and gilding, which is a kind ofgingerbreadwork.To take the gilt off the gingerbread.Seegilt.Gingerly,adj.andadv.(old: now recognised).—Asadj., delicate; fastidious; dainty; asadv., with great care; softly.1533.Udal,Floures for Latine Spekynge. We stayghe and prolonge our goyng, with a nyce or tendre and softe, delicate, orgingerlypace.c.1563.Jacke Jugeler, p. 40 (ed. Grosart). We used to call her at home Dame Coye, a pretiegingerliepice [piece].1592.Nashe,Pierce Penilesse, inWks., ii., 32. That lookes as simperingly as if she were besmeared, and sits it asgingerlyas if she were dancing the Canaries.1611.Chapman,May-Day, Act iii., p. 294 (Plays, 1874). Come, come,gingerly; for God’s sake,gingerly.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario,q.v.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v. Gently, softly, easily.1759–67.Sterne,Tristram Shandy, vol. V., ch. v. My mother was going verygingerlyin the dark.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. To gogingerlyto work,i.e., to attempt a thing gently, or cautiously.1874.Mrs. H. Wood,Johnny Ludlow, 1 S. 12, p. 207. The Squire went ingingerly, as if he had been treading on a spiked ploughshare.Ginger-pop,subs.(colloquial).—1. Ginger-beer.2. (rhyming).—A policeman; aslop(q.v.).1887.Dagonet,Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, c. 3. Ere her bull-dog I could stop, She had called aginger-pop.Ginger-snap,subs.(American).—A hot-tempered person, especially one with carrotty hair.[148]Gingham,subs.(common).—An umbrella; specifically one of this material. For synonyms,seeMushroom.1868.Miss Braddon,Trail of the Serpent, Bk. I., ch. vii. Mr. Peters therefore took immediate possession by planting his honestginghamin a corner of the room.1889.Sportsman, 2 Feb. It would really put a premium on the many little mistakes of ownership concerningginghamsat present so common.Gingle-boy,subs.(old).—A coin; latterly a gold piece. AlsoGingler.SeeActualandCanary.1622.MassingerandDekker,Virgin Martyr, ii., 2. The sign of thegingleboyshangs at the door of our pockets.Gingumbobs.SeeGingambobs.Ginicomtwig,verb.(venery).—To copulate. For synonyms,seeRide.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes,Scuotere il pellicione.Toginicomtwigor occupie a woman.Gin-lane(orTrap),subs.(common).—1. The throat. For synonyms,seeGutter-alley.Gin-trap, also = the mouth. For synonyms,seePotato-trap.1827.Egan,Anecdotes of the Turf, p. 67. Never again could … he feel his ivories loose within hisgin-trap.2. (common).—Generic for the habit of drunkenness.1839.Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard[1889], p. 8. Let me advise you on no account to fly to strong waters for consolation, Joan. One nail drives out another, it’s true; but the worst nail you can employ is a coffin nail.Gin Lane’sthe nearest road to the churchyard.Gin-mill,subs.(American).—A drinking saloon. For synonyms,seeLush-crib.1872.Belgravia, Dec. ‘A Presidential Election.’ Then goes off to rejoin his comrades, to adjourn to the nearestgin-mill.Ginnified,subs.(common).—Dazed, or stupid, with liquor.Ginnums,subs.(common).—An old woman: especially one fond of drink.Ginny,subs.(old).—A housebreaker’s tool;seequot., 1754.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1754.Scoundrels’ Dict.An instrument to lift up a grate or grating, to steal what is in the window. ‘The ninth is aginny, to lift up the grate, If he sees but the Lurry, with his Hooks he will bait.’1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gin-penny,subs.(costermongers’).—Extra profit, generally spent in drink.Gin-slinger,subs.(common).—A gin-drinker. For synonyms,seeLushington.Gin-spinner,subs.(old).—A distiller; a dealer in spirituous liquors.Cf.,Ale-spinner.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1827.Egan,Anecdotes of the Turf, p. 179. Just as she was about to toddle to thegin-spinner’sfor the ould folk and lisp out for a quartern of Max.1888.F. Green, inNotes and Queries, 7 S., vi., 153. I have always understood that agin spinneris a distiller who makes gin, but could never find out why so called.Gin-twist,subs.(common).—A drink composed of gin and sugar, with lemon and water.1841.Comic Almanac, p. 271 What, for instance, butgin-twistcould have brought Oliver Twist to light?[149]Gin Up,verb.(American).—To work hard; to make things lively orhum(q.v.). For synonyms,seeWire in.1887.Francis,Saddle and Moccassin. They wereginningherup, that’s a fact.Gip,subs.(American thieves’).—1. A thief. 2. Also (Cambridge University) a college servant.SeeGyp. For synonyms,seeThieves.Girl,subs.(common).—1. A prostitute;in. pl.= the stock in trade of a brothel.SeeBarrack Hack,Tart, andGay. Fr.,fille.
2. (venery).—To receive the sexual embrace: of women only.To get out of bed on the wrong side,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be testy or cross-grained. [A corruption of an old saying, ‘To rise on the right side is accounted lucky’; hence the reverse meant trials to temper, patience, and luck.]1607.Marston,What You Will. Yourise on your right sideto-day, marry.1608.Machin,Dumb Knight, iv., 1. Sure I said my prayers,ris’d on my right side, Wash’d hands and eyes, put on my[136]girdle last; Sure I met no splea-footed baker, No hare did cross me, nor no bearded witch, Nor other ominous sign.1614.Terence in English.C.What doth shee keepe house alreadie?D.Alreadie.C.O good God!;we rose on the right sideto-day.1647.BeaumontandFletcher, i.Women Pleased. Yourose o’ your right side.1890.Globe, 15 May, p. 2, col. 2. Some of them had—if we may employ such a vulgar expression—got out of bed on the wrong side.To get out(orRound),verb. phr.(racing).—To back a horse against which one has previously laid; toHedge(q.v.).1884.Hawley Smart,From Post to Finish, p. 318. He had an idea Johnson was this time cleverly working a very well authorised commission, and that he personally had taken more than one opportunity of what is termedgetting out.To get set,verb. phr.(cricketing).—1. To warm to one’s work at the wicket, and collar the bowling; to get one’s eye well in.To get there,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To attain one’s object; to be successful;to make one’s jack(q.v.);to get there with both feet= to be very successful.1887.Francis,Saddle and Mocassin. He said as he’d been gambling, and was two hundred dollars ahead of the town. Hegot there with both feetat starting.1888.New York Herald, 29 July. Although not a delegate hegot thereall the same.2. (common).—To get drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.3. (venery).—To enjoy the sexual favour.To get through,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To pass an examination; to accomplish.1853.Bradley,Verd. Green, II. ch. xii. So you see, Giglamps, I’m safe toget through.To get up and dust,verb. phr.(American).—To depart hastily. For synonyms,seeSkedaddleandAmputate.To get up behind(orget behind)a man,verb. phr.(common).—To endorse or back a bill.1880.Life in a Debtor’s Prison, p. 87. In other cases he figured as the drawer, or simply as endorser. This, Mr. Whipper described asgetting up behind.To get up the mail,verb. phr.(thieves’).—To find money (as counsels’ fees, etc.) for defence.1889.ClarksonandRichardson,Police, 322, s.v.[Getenters into many other combinations.Seeback teeth;bagorsack;bead;beans;beat;big birdandgoose;big head;billet;bit;boat;bolt;books;bulge;bullet;bull’s feather;crocketts;danderandmonkey;dark;drop;eye;flannels;flint;game;grand bounce;gravel-rash;grind;grindstone;hand;hang;hat;head;hiporhop;home;horn;hot;jack;keen;length ofone’sfoot;measure;mitten;needle;religion;rise;run;scot,swot, orscrape;set;shut of;silk;snuff;straight;sun;ticket of leave;wool;wrong box.]Getaway,subs.(American thieves’).—A locomotive or train; apuffer(q.v.).Getter.Asure getter,subs. phr.(Scots).—A procreant male with a great capacity for fertilization.[137]Get-up,subs.(colloquial).—1. Dress; constitution and appearance; disguise.SeeGet-up,verb, sense 1.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xiv. Is that killingget upentirely for your benefit, John? I asked.1865.G. A. Sala,Trip to Barbary, ch. x. Altogether theget upof a Mauresqueen promenadeis livelier and smarter than that of a Turkish woman.1866.G. Eliot,Felix Holt, ch. xii. The graceful, well-appointed Mr. Christian, who sneered at Scales about hisget up, having to walk back to the house with only one tail to his coat.1882.Graphic, 9 Dec., p. 643, c. 2. Comicgets up, which will make the house roar presently, are elaborated with the business air of a judge inbanc, or a water-rate collector.1889.Mirror, 26 Aug., p. 2, c. 1. I cannot, however, congratulate F. C. G. on his sketch of Blowitz; it isn’t much like the great man, and theget upis quite too absurd.1890.Daily Telegraph, 25 Feb., p. 7. col. 7. Dressed as acopurchic, and, giving himself out as an Italian count—thinking to entrap some Transatlantic heiress by his title, fascinating appearance, and gorgeousget up.Verb. phr.(colloquial).—(1). To prepare (a part, a paper, a case); (2) to arrange (a concert); (3) to dress (asgot up regardless,to the nines,to the knocker,to kill,within an inch of one’s life); (4) to disguise (as a sailor, a soldier, Henry VIII., a butcher, a nun).SeealsoGet into.1828.L. Hunt,Essays(Camelot ed.), p. 13. The pocket-books that now contain any literature aregot up, as the phrase is, in the most unambitious style.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xviii. Three very gentleman-like, good-looking men,got upto the utmost extent of hunting splendour.1864.Eton School Days, ch. xviii., p. 207. He felt confident in his power ofgetting upso that no one would recognise him.1866.New York Home Journal, Jan. While that admirable old dame, Nature, has been strangely neglectful of much which might be conducive to our comfort, she hasgotten up, regardless of expense, a few articles which are good for some purposes, as the witty Hood has told us.1871.London Figaro, 11 Mar. It isgot upvery much in the style of the Paris journals, and is very inferior compared with any respectable journal in England.1889.Polytechnic Magazine, 24 Oct., p. 261. He came speciallygot upin piebald trousers.1892.Chevalier.‘The Little Nipper.’ I’ve knowed ’im take a girl on six feet tall; ’E’dgit ’imself updossy, Say ‘I’m goin’ out wi’ Flossie.’G.H.SeeGeorge Horne.Ghastly,adj.andadv.(colloquial).—Very: a popular intensitive;Cf.,Awful,Bloody,Fucking.Ghost,subs.(common).—One who secretly does artistic or literary work for another person taking the credit and receiving the price. [The term was frequently used during the trial of Lawesv.Belt in 188(?).]Cf.,devil.1890.Daily Telegraph, 8 Feb. The sculptor’sghostis conjured up from the vasty deep of byegone lawsuits.1892.National Observer, vii., 327.Would not the unkind describe your ‘practical man’ as aghost?Verb.(common).—To prowl; to spy upon;to shadow(q.v.).The ghost walks(ordoes not walk)phr.(theatrical).—There is (or is not) money in the treasury.1853.Household Words, No. 183. When no salaries are forthcoming theghost doesn’t walk.[138]1883.Referee, 24 June, p. 3, c. 2. An Actor’s Benevolent Fund box placed on the treasurer’s desk every day whenthe ghost walkswould get many an odd shilling or sixpence put into it.1885.The Stage, p. 112. The rogues seldom appear at a loss for a plausible story when it is time for theghost to walk.Ibid.The next daythe ghost declines to walk.1889.J. C. Colman(inSlang, Jargon, and Cant), p. 405.Ghost-walking, a term originally applied by an impecunious stroller in a sharing company to the operation of ‘holding the treasury,’ or paying the salaries, which has become a stock facetiæ among all kinds and descriptions of actors. Instead of enquiring whether the treasury is open, they generally say—‘Has theghost walked?’ or ‘What, has this thing appeared again?’ (Shakspeare).1890.Illustrated Bits, 29 Mar., p. 11, c. 1. And a few nights with empty bencheslaid the ghostcompletely. It could not evenwalkto the tune of quarter salaries.The ghost of a chance,subs. phr.(colloquial).—The faintest likelihood, or the slightest trace:e.g., He hasn’tthe ghost of a chance.1891.Sportsman, 26 Mar. He did not givethe ghost of a chance.Ghoul,subs.(American.)—1. A spy; specifically a man who preys on such married women as addict themselves to assignation houses.2. (journalistic).—A newspaper chronicler of the smallest private tittle-tattle.Gib,subs.(colloquial).—1. Gibraltar. Once a penal station: whence—2. A gaol.1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 221. I did a lagging of seven, and was at thegibthree out of it.1892.Pall Mall Gazette, 23 Mar., p. 6, c. 1. ‘Stormy Weather atgib.’ The weather here has been fearful; 51 inches of rain have been registered, and the land for miles round Gibraltar is submerged.To hang one’s gib,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To pout.SeeJib.Gibberish(orGebberish,Gibberidge,Gibrige, etc.),subs.(old: now recognised).—Originally the lingo of gipsies, beggars, etc. Now, any kind of inarticulate nonsense. [Fromgibber, a variant ofJabber.]SeeCant,Slang,Pedlar’s French, etc.1594.Nashe,Unf. Traveller, in wks., v., 68. That all cried out upon him mightily in theirgibrige, lyke a companie of beggers.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes.Gergare, to speak fustian, pedlers french,or rogues language, orgibbrish.1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Jargon,gibridgefustian language,pedler’sFrench, a barbarus jangling.1638.H. Shirley,Martyr’d Souldier, Act iii., Sc. 4. Feele my pulse once again and tell me, Doctor, Tell me in tearmes that I may understand,—I doe not love yourgibberish,—tell me honestly Where the Cause lies, and give a Remedy.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.).Gibberish(s.) an unintelligible jargon, or confused way of speaking, used by the gipsies, beggars, etc., to disguise their wicked designs; also any discourse where words abound more than sense.1748.Smollett,Rod. Random, ch. xxx. He repeated somegibberishwhich by the sound seemed to be Irish.1817.Scott,Rob Roy, ch. viii. Since that d——d clerk of mine has taken hisgibberishelsewhere.1850.D. Jerrold,The Catspaw,Act i. Odds and ends … writ down in such a kind ofgibberishthat I can’t make out one of ’em.1858.G. Eliot,Mr. Gilfit’s Love Story, ch. iv. It’ll learn to speak summat better norgibberish, an’ be brought up i’ the true religion.1892.R. L. StevensonandL. Osbourne,The Wrecker, p. 129. It was Fo’c’s’le Jack that piped and drawled his ungrammaticalgibberish.[139]Gibble-Gabble,subs.(colloquial).—Nonsense;gibberish(q.v.). [A reduplication ofgabble(q.v.).]1600.Dekker,Shoemaker’s Holiday, in wks. (1873) i., 21. Hee’s some uplandish workeman, hire him good master, That I may learne somegibble gabble, ’twill make us worke the faster.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.).Gibble-gabble(s), silly, foolish, idle talk.Gib-cat,subs.(old).—A tom-cat. [An abbreviation of Gilbert = O. Fr.:Tibert, the cat in the fable of Reynard the Fox.]1360.Chaucer,Romaunt of the Rose, 6204 (Thibert le Casis rendered bygibbe, our cat).1598.Shakspeare,1 Henry IV., Act i., Sc. 2. I am as melancholy as agib-cat.1614.Jonson,Bartholomew Fair, i., 1. Before I endure such another day with him, I’ll be drawn with a goodgib-catthrough the great pond at home.1663.Rump Songs.‘Rump Carbonadoed,’ ii., 71. As if they had less wit and grace thangib-cats.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gibe,verb.(American).—To go well with; to be acceptable.SeeGee.Gibel,verb.(thieves’).—To bring.1837.Disraeli,Venetia, bk. i., ch. xiv.Gibelthe chive, bring the knife.Gib-face,subs.(colloquial).—A heavy jowl; anugly-mug(q.v.).Cf.,to hang one’s gib.Giblets,subs.(common).—1. The intestines generally; themanifold(q.v.).Cf.trouble-giblets.1864.Browning,Dramatis Personæ,‘Flight of the Duchess.’ Is pumped up briskly through the main ventricle, And floats me genially round thegiblets.2. (colloquial).—A fat man;forty-guts(q.v.). AlsoDuke of Giblets.To join giblets,verb. phr.(venery).—To copulate. Alsoto haveordo a bit of giblet-pie. For synonyms,seeRide. Hence to cohabit as husband and wife;to live tally.Cf.,plaster of warm guts.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1887.Notes and Queries, 7 S., iv., 511. ‘To join giblets.’—This expression may occasionally be heard in this district, among the lowest and vulgarest, and has a very offensive meaning.To fret one’s giblets,verb. phr.—SeeFret.Gibraltar,subs.(American).—A party stronghold:e.g., theGibraltarofDemocracy.—Norton.Gibson(orSir John Gibson),subs.(old coachbuilders’).—A rest to support the body of a building coach.Gibus,subs.(colloquial).—1. An opera, or crush hat. Fr.,un accordéon. [From the name of the inventor.]1867.Jas. Greenwood,Unsent. Journeys, iii., 21. West-End aristocrats, with spotless jean coats andGibushats.1871.Figaro, 2 Sept. Much fun may be made by wearing aGibus, and collapsing it at the moment of contact with the funnel.1885.Punch, 4 Apr., p. 160. Giving his comic, shiny, curly-brimmed hat to the swell who couldn’t by any possible chance have mistaken it for his ownGibus.1887.Atkin,House Scraps, p. 144. TheirGibushats are cock’d awry.[140]Giddy,adj.(colloquial).—Flighty; wanton:e.g.,to play the giddy goat= to live a fast life; to be happy-go-lucky.1892.Ally Sloper, 19 Mar., p. 91, c. 2. Fanny Robinson was flighty; sheplayed the giddy ox—I mean heifer.Giffle-gaffle,subs.(old).—Nonsense; a variant ofgibble-gabble(q.v.).1787.Grose,Prov. Glossary.Giff-gaff, unpremeditated discourse.Gif-gaf(orGiff-gaff),subs.(Scots’).—A bargain on equal terms. Whence the proverb:Gif-gafmaks guid friens. Fr.:Passe-moi la casse et je t’enverrai la senne.Gift,subs.(colloquial).—1. Anything, lightly gained or easily won.2. (common).—A white speck on the finger nails, supposed to portend a gift.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.3. (printers’).—SeeGift-house.As full of gifts as a brazen horse of farts,phr.(old).—Mean; miserly; disinclined topart(q.v.).1811Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.Gift of the Gab.—SeeGab.Gift-house(orGift),subs.(printers’).—A club; a house of call; specifically for the purpose of finding employment, or providing allowances for members.Gig(Gigg,Gigge),subs.(old).—1. a wanton; a mistress; a flighty girl.Cf.,Giglet.1373.Chaucer,House of Fame, iii. 851. This house was also ful ofgygges.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew. A younggig, a wanton lass.1780.D’Arbley,Diary, etc., (1876), i., 286. Charlotte L—— called, and the littlegigtold … of the domestic life she led in her family, and made them all ridiculous, without meaning to make herself so.1825.Planché,SuccessinExtravaganzas(1879) I., 26. He! he! What agigyou look in that hat and feather!1832.MacaulayinLife, byTrevelyan(1884), ch. v., p. 188. Be you Foxes, be you Pitts, You must write to silly chits, Be you Tories, be you Whigs, You must write to sad younggigs.2. (old).—A jest; a piece of nonsense; anything fanciful or frivolous. Hence, generally, in contempt.1590.Nashe,Pasquil’s Apologie, in wks. Vol. I., p. 234. A right cutte of the worde, withoutegiggesor fancies of haereticall and newe opinions.1793.Butt,Poems.… Fograms, quizzes, treats, and bores, andgigs, Were held in some account with ancient prigs.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xiv. Such a set ofgigs, my dear, I never saw in my life; large underbred horses, and not a good-looking man amongst them.3. (old).—The nose. For synonyms,seeConk.To snitchell the gig= to pull the nose.Grunter’s gig= a hog’s snout.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.4. (venery).—The femalepudendum. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable. [Possibly fromgig= a top,i.e., a toy; possibly, too, from It.giga= afiddle(q.v.); but seepostsense 8.]1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.[141]5. (old: now recognised).—A light two-wheeled vehicle drawn by one horse.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1809.Windham,Speech, 25 May. Let the former riders ingigsand whiskeys, and one horsed carriages continue to ride in them.6. (old).—A door.SeeGigger.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue. It is all bob, now let’s dub thegiggof the case: now the coast is clear, let us break open the door of the house.7. (Eton).—A fool; an overdressed person. For synonyms,seeSammy-soft.1797.Colman,Heir at Law, iv., 3.Dick.—What a damn’dgigyou look like.Pangloss.—Agig! umph! that’s an Eton phrase—the Westminsters call it Quiz.1870.Athenæum, 16 Apr. He would now be what Eton used to call agig, and Westminster a Quiz.8. (old).—Fun; a frolic; a spree. [Possibly from Fr.:gigue= a lively dance movement.Cf.,gigue et jon= a Bacchanalian exclamation of sailors. In Florio, too,frottolare= ‘to singgigges, rounds, or … wanton verses.’]Full of gig= full of laughter, ripe for mischief.1811.Moore,Twopenny Post-bag, Letter 3. We were all in highgig—Roman punch and tokay travelled round, till our heads travelled just the same way.1820.Randall,Diary. In search of lark, or some deliciousgig, The mind delights on, when ’tis in prime twig.1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 3. I hope we shall have many a bit ofgigtogether.1888.Besant,Fifty Years Ago, p. 134. A laughter-loving lass of eighteen who dearly loved a bit ofgig.9. (old).—The mouth. For synonyms,seePotato-trap.1871.Finish to Tom and Jerry, p. 175(ed. 1872). The bit of myrtle in hisgig.10. (old).—A farthing. Formerlygrig(q.v.).11.(American).—SeePolicy Dealing.Verb.(old).—To hamstring.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.To gigga Smithfield hank, to hamstring an overdrove ox.By Gigs!intj.(old).—A mild and silly oath.SeeOaths.1551.W. Still,Gammer Gurton’s Needle, ii., 51. Chad a foule turne now of late, chill tell it you,by gigs!Gigamaree,subs.(American).—A thing of little worth; a pretty but useless toy; agimcrack(q.v.).1848.Jones,Sketches of Travel, p. 9. Byin’ fineries and northerngigamareesof one kind or another.Ibid.I ax’d the captain what sort of agigamareehe had got up there for a flag.Gigantomachize,verb.(old).—To rise in revolt against one’s betters. Gr.,Gigantomachia= the War of the Giants against the Gods. [Probably a coinage of Ben Jonson’s.]1599.Jonson,Every Man Out, Act v., 4. Slight, fed with it the whoreson, strummel-patched, goggle-eyed grumble-dores would havegigantomachizedtheir Maker.Gigger,subs.(tailors’).—1. A sewing machine. (In allusion to noise and movement).2.SeeJigger.Giggles-nest.Have you found a giggles-nest?phr.(old).—Asked of a persontittering, or one who laughs immoderately and senselessly.[142]Gig-lamps,subs.(common).—1. Spectacles. For synonyms,seeBarnacles.1848.Bradley, inLetter to J. C. H.Gig-lamps(certainly a university term. I first heard it in 1848 or 1849, long before Mr. Verdant Green was born or thought of).1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 140. You with thegig-lamps, throw us your cigar.1887.Punch, 30 July, p. 45. Jack’s a straw-thatched young joker ingig-lamps.1892.F. Anstey,Voces Populi. ‘At the Tudor Exhibition.’ Stop, though, suppose shehasspotted me? Never can tell withgiglamps.2. (common).—One who wears spectacles; afour eyes(q.v.). [Popularised by Verdant Green.]Gigler(orGiglet,Goglet,Gigle,Gig),subs.(old).—A wanton; a mistress.Giglet(West of England) = a giddy, romping girl; and in Salop a flighty person is called agiggle.Cf.,Gig, sense 1.1533.Udal,Floures for Latine Spekynge, fo. 101. What is the matter, foolishgiglotte? What meanest thou? Whereat laughest thou?1567.Harman,Caveat, leaf 22,back. Therefore let us assemble secretly into the place where he hath appoynted to meet thisgyleotthat is at your house.1603.Shakspeare,Measure for Measure, v., 1. Let him speak no more: away with thosegiglotstoo, and with the other confederate companion.1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Gadrouillette, minx,gigle, flirt.1620.Massienger,Fatal Dowry, Act. iii. If this be The recompence of striving to preserve A wantongigglethonest, very shortly ’Twill make all mankind pandars.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue.Gigglers, wanton women.Adj.(old).—Loose in word and deed. Alsogiglet-like, andgiglet-wise= like a wanton.1598.Shakspeare,1 Henry IV., Act v., Sc. 1. Young Talbot was not born To be the pillage of agiglotwench.1600.Fairfax,Jerusalem Delivered, vi., 72. That thou wilt gad by night ingiglet-wise, Amid thine armed foes to seek thy shame.Gild,verb.(old).—To make drunk; to flush with drink.1609.Shakspeare,Tempest, Act v., Sc. 1. This grand liquor that hathgildedthem.1620.Fletcher,Chances, iv., 3. Is she not drunk, too? A littlegildedo’er, sir.To gild the pill,phr.(colloquial).—To say, or do, unpleasant things as gently as may be; to impose upon; tobamboozle(q.v.).Gilded Rooster,subs. phr.(American).—A man of importance; ahowling swell(q.v.); sometimesthe gilded rooster on the top of the steeple.Cf.,big-bug;big dog of the tanyard, etc.1888.New York Herald.We admit that as a metropolis Chicago is thegilded rooster on top of the steeple, but evengilded roostershave no right to the whole corn bin.Gilderoy’s Kite.To be hung higher than gilderoy’s kite,verb. phr.(old).—To be punished more severely than the very worst criminals. ‘The greater the crime the higher the gallows’ was at one time a practical legal axiom. Hence, out of sight; completely gone.Giles’ Greek.SeeSt. Giles’ Greek.[143]Gilguy,subs.(nautical).—Anything which happens to have slipped the memory; equivalent towhat’s-his-nameorthingamytight.Gilkes,subs.(old).—Skeleton keys.1610.Rowlands,Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874).Gilkesor the Gigger, false keyes for the doore or picklockes.Gill(orJill),subs.(old).—1. A girl; (2) a sweetheart:e.g., ‘every Jack must have hisGill’; (3) a wanton, a strumpet (an abbreviation ofgillian). For synonyms,seeJomerandTitter.1586–1606.Warner,Albion’s England, bk. vii., ch. 37. The simplestgillor knave.1598.Florio,A Worlde of Wordes,Palandrina, a common queane, a harlot, a strumpet, agill.1620.Percy,Folio MSS., p. 104. There is neuer a Jacke forgill.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.2. (common).—a drink; ago(q.v.).1785.Burns,Scots Drink. Haill breeks, a scone, andwhisky gill.3.in. pl.‘g’ hard (colloquial).—The mouth or jaws; the face.SeePotato-trapandDial.1622.Bacon,Historia Naturalis. Redness about the cheeks andgills.1632.Jonson,Magnetic Lady, i. He … draws all the parish wills, Designs the legacies, and strokes thegillsof the chief mourners.b.1738.Wolcot,Pindar’s Works(1809), i., 8. Whether you look all rosy round thegills, Or hatchet-fac’d like starving cats so lean.1820.Lamb,Elia(Two Races of Men). What a careless, even deportment hath your borrower! what rosygills!1855.Thackeray,Newcomes, ch. viii. Binnie, as brisk and rosy about thegillsas chanticleer, broke out in a morning salutation.1884.Punch.He went a bit red in thegills.4.in. pl.(common).—A very large shirt collar; alsostick-upsandsideboards. Fr.:cache-bonbon-à-liqueur= a stick-up.1859.Sala,Twice Round the Clock, 6 p., in Part 7. With a red face, shaven to the superlative degree of shininess, withgillswhite and tremendous, with a noble white waistcoat.1884.Daily Telegraph, July 8, p. 5, c. 4. Lord Macaulay wore, to the close of his life, ‘stick-ups,’ orgills.To grease the gills.—verb.phr.(common).—To have a good meal;to wolf(q.v.).To look blue(orqueer, orgreen)about the gills,verb. phr.(common).—To be downcast or dejected; also to suffer from the effects of a debauch. Hence, conversely,to be rosy about the gills= to be cheerful.1836.M. Scott,Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. ii. Most of them were very white andblue in the gillswhen we sat down, and others of a dingy sort of whitey-brown, while they ogled the viands in a most suspicious manner.1892.G. Manville Fenn,Witness to the Deed, ch. ii. You look precious seedy.White about the gills.A cant(ordig)in the gills,phr.(pugilists’).—A punch in the face.SeeBang.Gill-flirt,subs.(old).—A wanton; a flirt. For synonyms,seeBarrack HackandTart.1598.Florio,A Worlde of Wordes.1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Gaultiere, a whore, punke, drab, queane,gill,flirt.[144]1690. B. E.,Dict, of the Cant. Crew, s.v. A proud minx.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.Gilly,subs.(American).—A fool. For synonyms,seeBuffleandCabbage-head.Gilly-gaupus,subs. phr.(Scots).—A tall loutish fellow.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gilt,subs.(popular).—1. Money. [Ger.:Geld; Du.:Geld.]English Synonyms.—Add to those underActual:—Charms; checks; cole or coal; coliander seeds; corn in Egypt; crap; darby; dots; ducats; gingerbread; kelter; lowie; lurries; moss; oil of palms; palm-oil; peck; plums; rhino; rivets; salt; sawdust; scad; screen; scuds; shigs; soap; spoon; steven; sugar; tea-spoons; tinie.French Synonyms.—Le galtos(popular);l’odeur de gousset(obsolete);l’onguent(= palm grease, Sp.,unguento; the simile is common to most languages);le morlingue(thieves’);la menouille(popular);le michon(thieves’: frommiche, a loaf,cf.,Loaver);les monacos(popular);le monarque(prostitutes’: primarily a five franc piece);le blé(= corn or loaver);les étoffes(thieves’).Spanish Synonyms.—La lana(= wool);la morusa(colloquial);la mosca(= the flies);lo numerario;la pelusa(= down);lo zurraco(colloquial);lo unguento de Mejico(= Mexican Grease);a’ toca teja(colloquial: ready money);caire.Italian Synonyms.—Cucchi;cuchieri;cucchielli;lugani.German Synonyms.—Fuchs(= fox: an allusion to the ruddy hue of gold pieces);fuxigorfuxern= golden, red;fuchsmelochener(= goldsmith);gipsorgyps(Viennese thieves’, from the Latin,gypsum);hora(= ready-money: from the Hebrewheren);kall(Han: especially small change: from Heb.kal= lowly light);kis,kies,kiss(applied both to money in general and the receptacle or purse in which it is carried);lowe,love(Han.);mepaie(from the Fr.,payer)mesumme,linke mesumme(= counterfeit money);moos(from Heb.,mëo= a little stone);pich,picht, orpech;staub(= dust).1599.Shakspeare,Henry V., Act ii.Chorus.These corrupted men … have for thegiltof France (O guilt, indeed) Confirmed conspiracy.1714.Memoirs of John Hall(4th ed.), p. 9. And from thence conducted (provided he hasgilt) over the way to Hell.1885.Daily News, 25 May, p. 3, c. 1. Disputatious like mobs grouped together to discuss whether Charrington or Crowder had the mostgilt.2.subs.(old).—A thief; a pick-lock; alsogilt-orrum-dubber,gilter, etc.1669.Nicker NickedinHarl. Misc.(ed. Park), ii., 108 (given in list of names of thieves).1673.Character of a Quack Astrologer.For that purpose he maintains as strict a correspondence withgiltsand lifters.1676.Warning for Housekeepers, p. 3. Thegilteris one that hath all sorts of picklocks and false keys.1680.Cotton,Complete Gamester, p. 333. Shoals of muffs, hectors, setters,gilts, pads, biters, etc. … may all pass under the general appellation of snobs.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.[145]1882.McCabe,New York, ch. xxxiv., 509.Gilt-dubber, a hotel thief.3. (thieves’).—Formerly a pick-lock or skeleton key; now a crow-bar. For synonyms,seeJemmy.1671.R. Head,English Rogue, Pt. 1, ch. v., p. 50 (1874).Gilt, a pick-lock.1724.E. Coles,Eng. Dict.Gilt,c.a pick-lock.1839.W. H. Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard, p. 183 (ed. 1840). We shall have the whole village upon us while you’re striking the jigger. Use thegilt, man!To take the gilt off the gingerbread,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To destroy an illusion; to discount heavily.1884.Hawley Smart,From Post to Finish, p. 171. You see we had a rattling good year all round last, bar the Dancing Master. Hetook the gilt off the gingerbreadconsiderably.Gilt-dubber,seegilt, sense 2.Gilt-edged,adj.(American).—First-class; the best of its kind; a latter-day superlative. For synonyms,seeA1 andFizzing.c.1889.Chicago Tribune(quoted inSlang, Jargon, and Cant). He’s agilt-edgedidiot to play the game.1891.Standard, 18 June, p. 2, c. 1. ‘Gilt-edgedmutton’ is the latest of glorified and ‘boomed’ American products.1891.Tit Bits, 8 Aug., p. 286, c. 2. Another accomplishment, peculiar to thegilt-edgedacademy, is learning to eat asparagus, oranges, grapes, etc.Gilter,seegilt, sense 2.Gilt-tick,subs.(costermongers’). Gold.Gimbal-(orgimber-)Jawed,adj.(common).—Loquacious; talkingnineteen to the dozen(q.v.). [Gimbals are a combination of rings for free suspension; hence applied to persons the joints of whose jaws are loose in speech.]Gimcrack(Gincrack, orJimcrack),subs.(old).—1. A showy simpleton, male or female; adandy(q.v.).1618.BeaumontandFletcher,Loyal Subject, iv., 3. These are finegimcracks; hey, here comes another, a flagon full of wine in his hand.1637.Fletcher,Elder Brother, iii., 3. You are a handsome and a sweet young lady, And ought to have a handsome man yoked to ye. An understanding too; this is agimcrackThat can get nothing but new fashions on you.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Canting Crew.Gimcrack, a spruce wench.1706.Mrs. Centlivre,Basset Table, II.,Works(1872), i., 122. The philosophicalgimcrack.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.2. (colloquial).—A showy trifle; anything pretty to look at but of very little worth.1632.ChapmanandShirley,The Ball, Act iv.Lu.There remains, To take away one sample.Wi.Anothergimcrack?1678.Butler,Hudibras, pt. 3, ch. i. Rifled all his pokes and fobs.Cf.,gimcracks, whims, and jiggumbobs.1698–1700.Ward,London Spy, pt. 7, p. 148. I suppose there being little else to lose except scenes, machines, or some suchjim-cracks.1843.Thackeray,Irish Sketch Book, ch. i. There was the harp of Brian Boru, and the sword of some one else, and other cheap oldgimcrackswith their corollary of lies.1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 63. Such rum-lookinggimcracks, my pippin.3. (provincial).—A handy man; ajack-of-all-trades(q.v.).1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Agimcrackalso means a person who has a turn for mechanical contrivances.[146]4. (venery).—The femalepudendum. [A play on sense 2, andcrack, (q.v.).] For synonym,seeMonosyllable.Adj.(colloquial).—Trivial; showy; worthless.1855.Thackeray,Newcomes, ch. ix. No shops so beautiful to look at as the Brightongimcrackshops, and the fruit shops, and the market.1891.W. C. Russell,An Ocean Tragedy, p. 30. Soberly clothed with nothing moregimcrackin the way of finery upon him than a row of waistcoat-buttons.1892.Tit Bits, 19 Mar., p. 425 c. 2. A large cabinet or wardrobe, beautifully carved, and very substantial, nogimcrackwork.Gimcrackery,subs.(colloquial).—The world ofgimcrack(q.v.).1884.A. Forbes, inEng. Illustr. Mag., Jan., p. 230. The inner life of the Empire was a strange mixture of rottenness andgimcrackery.Gimlet-eye,subs.(common).—A squint-eye; apiercer(q.v.). Fr.:des yeux en trou de pine.Gimlet-eyed,adj.(common).—Squinting, or squinny-eyed; cock-eyed. As in the old rhyme: ‘Gimlet eye, sausage nose, Hip awry, bandy toes.’1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gimmer,subs.(Scots’).—An old woman. A variant of ‘cummer.’Gin,subs.(Australian).—An Australian native woman.1857.Kingsley,Two Years Ago, ch. xiii. An Australian settler’s wife bestows on some poor slavinggina cast-off French bonnet.1890.Hume Nisbet,Bail Up!, p. 30.2. (Australian).—An old woman. For synonyms,seeGeezer.Gin-and-gospel Gazette,subs. phr.(journalists’).—TheMorning Advertiser: as the organ of the Licensed Victualling and Church of England party. Also theTap-tubandbeer-and-bible gazette.Gin-and-Tidy,adv. phr.(American).—Decked out in ‘best bib and tucker.’ A pun on ‘neat spirits.’Gin-crawl,subs.(common).—Atipple(q.v.) on gin.1892.A. Chevalier, ‘The Little Nipper.’ I used to do agin crawlev’rynight, An’ very, very often come ’ome tight.Gingambobs(orJiggumbobs),subs.(common).—1. Toys; baubles.1690. B. E.Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.2. (venery).—The testicles; alsothingambobs. For synonyms,seeCods.Ginger,subs.(common).—1. A fast, showy horse; a beast that looksfigged(q.v.).1859.Notes and Queries, 17 Dec. p. 493. Agingeris a showy fast horse.2. (common).—A red-haired person;carrots(q.v.). [Whence the phrase (venery) ‘Black for beauty,gingerfor pluck.’]1885.Miss TennantinEng. Illustrated Magazine, June, p. 605. The policemen are well known to the boys, and appropriately named by them. There is ‘Jumbo,’ too stout to run;ginger, the red-haired.3. (common).—Spirit; dash;go(q.v.).To want ginger= to lack energy andpluck(q.v.).1888.The World, 13 May. You will remark that your spinal column is requiring a hinge, and that considerablegingeris departing from your resolution to bear up and enjoy yourself.[147]1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody of Nowhere, p. 124. If father objects send him to me, I’ll take thegingerout of him in short order.1892.R. L. StevensonandL. Osbourne,The Wrecker; p. 207. Give herginger, boys.Adj.(common).—Red-haired;foxy(q.v.);judas-haired(q.v.). Alsoginger-pated,ginger-hackled, andgingery.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Red-haired; a term borrowed from the cock-pit, where red cocks are calledgingers.1839.H. Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard, ch. xii. Somebody may be on the watch—perhaps that oldginger-hackledJew.1852.Dickens,Bleak House, ch. xix., p. 160. The very learned gentleman who has cooled the natural heat of hisgingerycomplexion in pools and fountains of law, until he has become great in knotty arguments for term-time.1878.M. E. Braddon,Cloven Foot, ch. iv. The landlady was a lean-looking widow, with a false front ofgingerycurls.Gingerbread,subs.(old).—1. Money:e.g., ‘He has thegingerbread’ = he is rich.1690. B. E.Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1834.Ainsworth,Rookwood. Your old dad had thegingerbread.1864.Standard, 13 Dec. We do not find … the wordgingerbreadused for money, as we have heard it both before and within the last six months. The origin of the use of the word may probably be the old fairy legends wherein the coin obtained over night from the elves was usually found in the morning to have turned into little gingerbread cakes.2. (colloquial).—Brummagem(q.v.); showy, but worthless ware.Adj.(colloquial).—Showy but worthless; tinsel. Fr.,en pain d’épice.Gingerbread work(nautical) = carved and gilded decorations;gingerbread quarters(nautical) = luxurious living.1757.Smollett,Compendium of Voyages and Travels. The rooms are too small and too much decorated with carving and gilding, which is a kind ofgingerbreadwork.To take the gilt off the gingerbread.Seegilt.Gingerly,adj.andadv.(old: now recognised).—Asadj., delicate; fastidious; dainty; asadv., with great care; softly.1533.Udal,Floures for Latine Spekynge. We stayghe and prolonge our goyng, with a nyce or tendre and softe, delicate, orgingerlypace.c.1563.Jacke Jugeler, p. 40 (ed. Grosart). We used to call her at home Dame Coye, a pretiegingerliepice [piece].1592.Nashe,Pierce Penilesse, inWks., ii., 32. That lookes as simperingly as if she were besmeared, and sits it asgingerlyas if she were dancing the Canaries.1611.Chapman,May-Day, Act iii., p. 294 (Plays, 1874). Come, come,gingerly; for God’s sake,gingerly.1659.Torriano,Vocabolario,q.v.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v. Gently, softly, easily.1759–67.Sterne,Tristram Shandy, vol. V., ch. v. My mother was going verygingerlyin the dark.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. To gogingerlyto work,i.e., to attempt a thing gently, or cautiously.1874.Mrs. H. Wood,Johnny Ludlow, 1 S. 12, p. 207. The Squire went ingingerly, as if he had been treading on a spiked ploughshare.Ginger-pop,subs.(colloquial).—1. Ginger-beer.2. (rhyming).—A policeman; aslop(q.v.).1887.Dagonet,Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, c. 3. Ere her bull-dog I could stop, She had called aginger-pop.Ginger-snap,subs.(American).—A hot-tempered person, especially one with carrotty hair.[148]Gingham,subs.(common).—An umbrella; specifically one of this material. For synonyms,seeMushroom.1868.Miss Braddon,Trail of the Serpent, Bk. I., ch. vii. Mr. Peters therefore took immediate possession by planting his honestginghamin a corner of the room.1889.Sportsman, 2 Feb. It would really put a premium on the many little mistakes of ownership concerningginghamsat present so common.Gingle-boy,subs.(old).—A coin; latterly a gold piece. AlsoGingler.SeeActualandCanary.1622.MassingerandDekker,Virgin Martyr, ii., 2. The sign of thegingleboyshangs at the door of our pockets.Gingumbobs.SeeGingambobs.Ginicomtwig,verb.(venery).—To copulate. For synonyms,seeRide.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes,Scuotere il pellicione.Toginicomtwigor occupie a woman.Gin-lane(orTrap),subs.(common).—1. The throat. For synonyms,seeGutter-alley.Gin-trap, also = the mouth. For synonyms,seePotato-trap.1827.Egan,Anecdotes of the Turf, p. 67. Never again could … he feel his ivories loose within hisgin-trap.2. (common).—Generic for the habit of drunkenness.1839.Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard[1889], p. 8. Let me advise you on no account to fly to strong waters for consolation, Joan. One nail drives out another, it’s true; but the worst nail you can employ is a coffin nail.Gin Lane’sthe nearest road to the churchyard.Gin-mill,subs.(American).—A drinking saloon. For synonyms,seeLush-crib.1872.Belgravia, Dec. ‘A Presidential Election.’ Then goes off to rejoin his comrades, to adjourn to the nearestgin-mill.Ginnified,subs.(common).—Dazed, or stupid, with liquor.Ginnums,subs.(common).—An old woman: especially one fond of drink.Ginny,subs.(old).—A housebreaker’s tool;seequot., 1754.1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.1754.Scoundrels’ Dict.An instrument to lift up a grate or grating, to steal what is in the window. ‘The ninth is aginny, to lift up the grate, If he sees but the Lurry, with his Hooks he will bait.’1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Gin-penny,subs.(costermongers’).—Extra profit, generally spent in drink.Gin-slinger,subs.(common).—A gin-drinker. For synonyms,seeLushington.Gin-spinner,subs.(old).—A distiller; a dealer in spirituous liquors.Cf.,Ale-spinner.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1827.Egan,Anecdotes of the Turf, p. 179. Just as she was about to toddle to thegin-spinner’sfor the ould folk and lisp out for a quartern of Max.1888.F. Green, inNotes and Queries, 7 S., vi., 153. I have always understood that agin spinneris a distiller who makes gin, but could never find out why so called.Gin-twist,subs.(common).—A drink composed of gin and sugar, with lemon and water.1841.Comic Almanac, p. 271 What, for instance, butgin-twistcould have brought Oliver Twist to light?[149]Gin Up,verb.(American).—To work hard; to make things lively orhum(q.v.). For synonyms,seeWire in.1887.Francis,Saddle and Moccassin. They wereginningherup, that’s a fact.Gip,subs.(American thieves’).—1. A thief. 2. Also (Cambridge University) a college servant.SeeGyp. For synonyms,seeThieves.Girl,subs.(common).—1. A prostitute;in. pl.= the stock in trade of a brothel.SeeBarrack Hack,Tart, andGay. Fr.,fille.
2. (venery).—To receive the sexual embrace: of women only.
To get out of bed on the wrong side,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be testy or cross-grained. [A corruption of an old saying, ‘To rise on the right side is accounted lucky’; hence the reverse meant trials to temper, patience, and luck.]
1607.Marston,What You Will. Yourise on your right sideto-day, marry.
1608.Machin,Dumb Knight, iv., 1. Sure I said my prayers,ris’d on my right side, Wash’d hands and eyes, put on my[136]girdle last; Sure I met no splea-footed baker, No hare did cross me, nor no bearded witch, Nor other ominous sign.
1614.Terence in English.C.What doth shee keepe house alreadie?D.Alreadie.C.O good God!;we rose on the right sideto-day.
1647.BeaumontandFletcher, i.Women Pleased. Yourose o’ your right side.
1890.Globe, 15 May, p. 2, col. 2. Some of them had—if we may employ such a vulgar expression—got out of bed on the wrong side.
To get out(orRound),verb. phr.(racing).—To back a horse against which one has previously laid; toHedge(q.v.).
1884.Hawley Smart,From Post to Finish, p. 318. He had an idea Johnson was this time cleverly working a very well authorised commission, and that he personally had taken more than one opportunity of what is termedgetting out.
To get set,verb. phr.(cricketing).—1. To warm to one’s work at the wicket, and collar the bowling; to get one’s eye well in.
To get there,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To attain one’s object; to be successful;to make one’s jack(q.v.);to get there with both feet= to be very successful.
1887.Francis,Saddle and Mocassin. He said as he’d been gambling, and was two hundred dollars ahead of the town. Hegot there with both feetat starting.
1888.New York Herald, 29 July. Although not a delegate hegot thereall the same.
2. (common).—To get drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.
3. (venery).—To enjoy the sexual favour.
To get through,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To pass an examination; to accomplish.
1853.Bradley,Verd. Green, II. ch. xii. So you see, Giglamps, I’m safe toget through.
To get up and dust,verb. phr.(American).—To depart hastily. For synonyms,seeSkedaddleandAmputate.
To get up behind(orget behind)a man,verb. phr.(common).—To endorse or back a bill.
1880.Life in a Debtor’s Prison, p. 87. In other cases he figured as the drawer, or simply as endorser. This, Mr. Whipper described asgetting up behind.
To get up the mail,verb. phr.(thieves’).—To find money (as counsels’ fees, etc.) for defence.
1889.ClarksonandRichardson,Police, 322, s.v.
[Getenters into many other combinations.Seeback teeth;bagorsack;bead;beans;beat;big birdandgoose;big head;billet;bit;boat;bolt;books;bulge;bullet;bull’s feather;crocketts;danderandmonkey;dark;drop;eye;flannels;flint;game;grand bounce;gravel-rash;grind;grindstone;hand;hang;hat;head;hiporhop;home;horn;hot;jack;keen;length ofone’sfoot;measure;mitten;needle;religion;rise;run;scot,swot, orscrape;set;shut of;silk;snuff;straight;sun;ticket of leave;wool;wrong box.]
Getaway,subs.(American thieves’).—A locomotive or train; apuffer(q.v.).
Getter.Asure getter,subs. phr.(Scots).—A procreant male with a great capacity for fertilization.[137]
Get-up,subs.(colloquial).—1. Dress; constitution and appearance; disguise.SeeGet-up,verb, sense 1.
1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xiv. Is that killingget upentirely for your benefit, John? I asked.
1865.G. A. Sala,Trip to Barbary, ch. x. Altogether theget upof a Mauresqueen promenadeis livelier and smarter than that of a Turkish woman.
1866.G. Eliot,Felix Holt, ch. xii. The graceful, well-appointed Mr. Christian, who sneered at Scales about hisget up, having to walk back to the house with only one tail to his coat.
1882.Graphic, 9 Dec., p. 643, c. 2. Comicgets up, which will make the house roar presently, are elaborated with the business air of a judge inbanc, or a water-rate collector.
1889.Mirror, 26 Aug., p. 2, c. 1. I cannot, however, congratulate F. C. G. on his sketch of Blowitz; it isn’t much like the great man, and theget upis quite too absurd.
1890.Daily Telegraph, 25 Feb., p. 7. col. 7. Dressed as acopurchic, and, giving himself out as an Italian count—thinking to entrap some Transatlantic heiress by his title, fascinating appearance, and gorgeousget up.
Verb. phr.(colloquial).—(1). To prepare (a part, a paper, a case); (2) to arrange (a concert); (3) to dress (asgot up regardless,to the nines,to the knocker,to kill,within an inch of one’s life); (4) to disguise (as a sailor, a soldier, Henry VIII., a butcher, a nun).SeealsoGet into.
1828.L. Hunt,Essays(Camelot ed.), p. 13. The pocket-books that now contain any literature aregot up, as the phrase is, in the most unambitious style.
1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xviii. Three very gentleman-like, good-looking men,got upto the utmost extent of hunting splendour.
1864.Eton School Days, ch. xviii., p. 207. He felt confident in his power ofgetting upso that no one would recognise him.
1866.New York Home Journal, Jan. While that admirable old dame, Nature, has been strangely neglectful of much which might be conducive to our comfort, she hasgotten up, regardless of expense, a few articles which are good for some purposes, as the witty Hood has told us.
1871.London Figaro, 11 Mar. It isgot upvery much in the style of the Paris journals, and is very inferior compared with any respectable journal in England.
1889.Polytechnic Magazine, 24 Oct., p. 261. He came speciallygot upin piebald trousers.
1892.Chevalier.‘The Little Nipper.’ I’ve knowed ’im take a girl on six feet tall; ’E’dgit ’imself updossy, Say ‘I’m goin’ out wi’ Flossie.’
G.H.SeeGeorge Horne.
Ghastly,adj.andadv.(colloquial).—Very: a popular intensitive;Cf.,Awful,Bloody,Fucking.
Ghost,subs.(common).—One who secretly does artistic or literary work for another person taking the credit and receiving the price. [The term was frequently used during the trial of Lawesv.Belt in 188(?).]Cf.,devil.
1890.Daily Telegraph, 8 Feb. The sculptor’sghostis conjured up from the vasty deep of byegone lawsuits.
1892.National Observer, vii., 327.Would not the unkind describe your ‘practical man’ as aghost?
Verb.(common).—To prowl; to spy upon;to shadow(q.v.).
The ghost walks(ordoes not walk)phr.(theatrical).—There is (or is not) money in the treasury.
1853.Household Words, No. 183. When no salaries are forthcoming theghost doesn’t walk.[138]
1883.Referee, 24 June, p. 3, c. 2. An Actor’s Benevolent Fund box placed on the treasurer’s desk every day whenthe ghost walkswould get many an odd shilling or sixpence put into it.
1885.The Stage, p. 112. The rogues seldom appear at a loss for a plausible story when it is time for theghost to walk.Ibid.The next daythe ghost declines to walk.
1889.J. C. Colman(inSlang, Jargon, and Cant), p. 405.Ghost-walking, a term originally applied by an impecunious stroller in a sharing company to the operation of ‘holding the treasury,’ or paying the salaries, which has become a stock facetiæ among all kinds and descriptions of actors. Instead of enquiring whether the treasury is open, they generally say—‘Has theghost walked?’ or ‘What, has this thing appeared again?’ (Shakspeare).
1890.Illustrated Bits, 29 Mar., p. 11, c. 1. And a few nights with empty bencheslaid the ghostcompletely. It could not evenwalkto the tune of quarter salaries.
The ghost of a chance,subs. phr.(colloquial).—The faintest likelihood, or the slightest trace:e.g., He hasn’tthe ghost of a chance.
1891.Sportsman, 26 Mar. He did not givethe ghost of a chance.
Ghoul,subs.(American.)—1. A spy; specifically a man who preys on such married women as addict themselves to assignation houses.
2. (journalistic).—A newspaper chronicler of the smallest private tittle-tattle.
Gib,subs.(colloquial).—1. Gibraltar. Once a penal station: whence—2. A gaol.
1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 221. I did a lagging of seven, and was at thegibthree out of it.
1892.Pall Mall Gazette, 23 Mar., p. 6, c. 1. ‘Stormy Weather atgib.’ The weather here has been fearful; 51 inches of rain have been registered, and the land for miles round Gibraltar is submerged.
To hang one’s gib,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To pout.SeeJib.
Gibberish(orGebberish,Gibberidge,Gibrige, etc.),subs.(old: now recognised).—Originally the lingo of gipsies, beggars, etc. Now, any kind of inarticulate nonsense. [Fromgibber, a variant ofJabber.]SeeCant,Slang,Pedlar’s French, etc.
1594.Nashe,Unf. Traveller, in wks., v., 68. That all cried out upon him mightily in theirgibrige, lyke a companie of beggers.
1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes.Gergare, to speak fustian, pedlers french,or rogues language, orgibbrish.
1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Jargon,gibridgefustian language,pedler’sFrench, a barbarus jangling.
1638.H. Shirley,Martyr’d Souldier, Act iii., Sc. 4. Feele my pulse once again and tell me, Doctor, Tell me in tearmes that I may understand,—I doe not love yourgibberish,—tell me honestly Where the Cause lies, and give a Remedy.
1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.
1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.).Gibberish(s.) an unintelligible jargon, or confused way of speaking, used by the gipsies, beggars, etc., to disguise their wicked designs; also any discourse where words abound more than sense.
1748.Smollett,Rod. Random, ch. xxx. He repeated somegibberishwhich by the sound seemed to be Irish.
1817.Scott,Rob Roy, ch. viii. Since that d——d clerk of mine has taken hisgibberishelsewhere.
1850.D. Jerrold,The Catspaw,Act i. Odds and ends … writ down in such a kind ofgibberishthat I can’t make out one of ’em.
1858.G. Eliot,Mr. Gilfit’s Love Story, ch. iv. It’ll learn to speak summat better norgibberish, an’ be brought up i’ the true religion.
1892.R. L. StevensonandL. Osbourne,The Wrecker, p. 129. It was Fo’c’s’le Jack that piped and drawled his ungrammaticalgibberish.[139]
Gibble-Gabble,subs.(colloquial).—Nonsense;gibberish(q.v.). [A reduplication ofgabble(q.v.).]
1600.Dekker,Shoemaker’s Holiday, in wks. (1873) i., 21. Hee’s some uplandish workeman, hire him good master, That I may learne somegibble gabble, ’twill make us worke the faster.
1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.
1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.).Gibble-gabble(s), silly, foolish, idle talk.
Gib-cat,subs.(old).—A tom-cat. [An abbreviation of Gilbert = O. Fr.:Tibert, the cat in the fable of Reynard the Fox.]
1360.Chaucer,Romaunt of the Rose, 6204 (Thibert le Casis rendered bygibbe, our cat).
1598.Shakspeare,1 Henry IV., Act i., Sc. 2. I am as melancholy as agib-cat.
1614.Jonson,Bartholomew Fair, i., 1. Before I endure such another day with him, I’ll be drawn with a goodgib-catthrough the great pond at home.
1663.Rump Songs.‘Rump Carbonadoed,’ ii., 71. As if they had less wit and grace thangib-cats.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gibe,verb.(American).—To go well with; to be acceptable.SeeGee.
Gibel,verb.(thieves’).—To bring.
1837.Disraeli,Venetia, bk. i., ch. xiv.Gibelthe chive, bring the knife.
Gib-face,subs.(colloquial).—A heavy jowl; anugly-mug(q.v.).Cf.,to hang one’s gib.
Giblets,subs.(common).—1. The intestines generally; themanifold(q.v.).Cf.trouble-giblets.
1864.Browning,Dramatis Personæ,‘Flight of the Duchess.’ Is pumped up briskly through the main ventricle, And floats me genially round thegiblets.
2. (colloquial).—A fat man;forty-guts(q.v.). AlsoDuke of Giblets.
To join giblets,verb. phr.(venery).—To copulate. Alsoto haveordo a bit of giblet-pie. For synonyms,seeRide. Hence to cohabit as husband and wife;to live tally.Cf.,plaster of warm guts.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1887.Notes and Queries, 7 S., iv., 511. ‘To join giblets.’—This expression may occasionally be heard in this district, among the lowest and vulgarest, and has a very offensive meaning.
To fret one’s giblets,verb. phr.—SeeFret.
Gibraltar,subs.(American).—A party stronghold:e.g., theGibraltarofDemocracy.—Norton.
Gibson(orSir John Gibson),subs.(old coachbuilders’).—A rest to support the body of a building coach.
Gibus,subs.(colloquial).—1. An opera, or crush hat. Fr.,un accordéon. [From the name of the inventor.]
1867.Jas. Greenwood,Unsent. Journeys, iii., 21. West-End aristocrats, with spotless jean coats andGibushats.
1871.Figaro, 2 Sept. Much fun may be made by wearing aGibus, and collapsing it at the moment of contact with the funnel.
1885.Punch, 4 Apr., p. 160. Giving his comic, shiny, curly-brimmed hat to the swell who couldn’t by any possible chance have mistaken it for his ownGibus.
1887.Atkin,House Scraps, p. 144. TheirGibushats are cock’d awry.[140]
Giddy,adj.(colloquial).—Flighty; wanton:e.g.,to play the giddy goat= to live a fast life; to be happy-go-lucky.
1892.Ally Sloper, 19 Mar., p. 91, c. 2. Fanny Robinson was flighty; sheplayed the giddy ox—I mean heifer.
Giffle-gaffle,subs.(old).—Nonsense; a variant ofgibble-gabble(q.v.).
1787.Grose,Prov. Glossary.Giff-gaff, unpremeditated discourse.
Gif-gaf(orGiff-gaff),subs.(Scots’).—A bargain on equal terms. Whence the proverb:Gif-gafmaks guid friens. Fr.:Passe-moi la casse et je t’enverrai la senne.
Gift,subs.(colloquial).—1. Anything, lightly gained or easily won.
2. (common).—A white speck on the finger nails, supposed to portend a gift.
1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
3. (printers’).—SeeGift-house.
As full of gifts as a brazen horse of farts,phr.(old).—Mean; miserly; disinclined topart(q.v.).
1811Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
Gift of the Gab.—SeeGab.
Gift-house(orGift),subs.(printers’).—A club; a house of call; specifically for the purpose of finding employment, or providing allowances for members.
Gig(Gigg,Gigge),subs.(old).—1. a wanton; a mistress; a flighty girl.Cf.,Giglet.
1373.Chaucer,House of Fame, iii. 851. This house was also ful ofgygges.
1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew. A younggig, a wanton lass.
1780.D’Arbley,Diary, etc., (1876), i., 286. Charlotte L—— called, and the littlegigtold … of the domestic life she led in her family, and made them all ridiculous, without meaning to make herself so.
1825.Planché,SuccessinExtravaganzas(1879) I., 26. He! he! What agigyou look in that hat and feather!
1832.MacaulayinLife, byTrevelyan(1884), ch. v., p. 188. Be you Foxes, be you Pitts, You must write to silly chits, Be you Tories, be you Whigs, You must write to sad younggigs.
2. (old).—A jest; a piece of nonsense; anything fanciful or frivolous. Hence, generally, in contempt.
1590.Nashe,Pasquil’s Apologie, in wks. Vol. I., p. 234. A right cutte of the worde, withoutegiggesor fancies of haereticall and newe opinions.
1793.Butt,Poems.… Fograms, quizzes, treats, and bores, andgigs, Were held in some account with ancient prigs.
1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xiv. Such a set ofgigs, my dear, I never saw in my life; large underbred horses, and not a good-looking man amongst them.
3. (old).—The nose. For synonyms,seeConk.To snitchell the gig= to pull the nose.Grunter’s gig= a hog’s snout.
1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
4. (venery).—The femalepudendum. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable. [Possibly fromgig= a top,i.e., a toy; possibly, too, from It.giga= afiddle(q.v.); but seepostsense 8.]
1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.[141]
5. (old: now recognised).—A light two-wheeled vehicle drawn by one horse.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1809.Windham,Speech, 25 May. Let the former riders ingigsand whiskeys, and one horsed carriages continue to ride in them.
6. (old).—A door.SeeGigger.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue. It is all bob, now let’s dub thegiggof the case: now the coast is clear, let us break open the door of the house.
7. (Eton).—A fool; an overdressed person. For synonyms,seeSammy-soft.
1797.Colman,Heir at Law, iv., 3.Dick.—What a damn’dgigyou look like.Pangloss.—Agig! umph! that’s an Eton phrase—the Westminsters call it Quiz.
1870.Athenæum, 16 Apr. He would now be what Eton used to call agig, and Westminster a Quiz.
8. (old).—Fun; a frolic; a spree. [Possibly from Fr.:gigue= a lively dance movement.Cf.,gigue et jon= a Bacchanalian exclamation of sailors. In Florio, too,frottolare= ‘to singgigges, rounds, or … wanton verses.’]Full of gig= full of laughter, ripe for mischief.
1811.Moore,Twopenny Post-bag, Letter 3. We were all in highgig—Roman punch and tokay travelled round, till our heads travelled just the same way.
1820.Randall,Diary. In search of lark, or some deliciousgig, The mind delights on, when ’tis in prime twig.
1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 3. I hope we shall have many a bit ofgigtogether.
1888.Besant,Fifty Years Ago, p. 134. A laughter-loving lass of eighteen who dearly loved a bit ofgig.
9. (old).—The mouth. For synonyms,seePotato-trap.
1871.Finish to Tom and Jerry, p. 175(ed. 1872). The bit of myrtle in hisgig.
10. (old).—A farthing. Formerlygrig(q.v.).
11.(American).—SeePolicy Dealing.
Verb.(old).—To hamstring.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.To gigga Smithfield hank, to hamstring an overdrove ox.
By Gigs!intj.(old).—A mild and silly oath.SeeOaths.
1551.W. Still,Gammer Gurton’s Needle, ii., 51. Chad a foule turne now of late, chill tell it you,by gigs!
Gigamaree,subs.(American).—A thing of little worth; a pretty but useless toy; agimcrack(q.v.).
1848.Jones,Sketches of Travel, p. 9. Byin’ fineries and northerngigamareesof one kind or another.
Ibid.I ax’d the captain what sort of agigamareehe had got up there for a flag.
Gigantomachize,verb.(old).—To rise in revolt against one’s betters. Gr.,Gigantomachia= the War of the Giants against the Gods. [Probably a coinage of Ben Jonson’s.]
1599.Jonson,Every Man Out, Act v., 4. Slight, fed with it the whoreson, strummel-patched, goggle-eyed grumble-dores would havegigantomachizedtheir Maker.
Gigger,subs.(tailors’).—1. A sewing machine. (In allusion to noise and movement).
2.SeeJigger.
Giggles-nest.Have you found a giggles-nest?phr.(old).—Asked of a persontittering, or one who laughs immoderately and senselessly.[142]
Gig-lamps,subs.(common).—1. Spectacles. For synonyms,seeBarnacles.
1848.Bradley, inLetter to J. C. H.Gig-lamps(certainly a university term. I first heard it in 1848 or 1849, long before Mr. Verdant Green was born or thought of).
1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 140. You with thegig-lamps, throw us your cigar.
1887.Punch, 30 July, p. 45. Jack’s a straw-thatched young joker ingig-lamps.
1892.F. Anstey,Voces Populi. ‘At the Tudor Exhibition.’ Stop, though, suppose shehasspotted me? Never can tell withgiglamps.
2. (common).—One who wears spectacles; afour eyes(q.v.). [Popularised by Verdant Green.]
Gigler(orGiglet,Goglet,Gigle,Gig),subs.(old).—A wanton; a mistress.Giglet(West of England) = a giddy, romping girl; and in Salop a flighty person is called agiggle.Cf.,Gig, sense 1.
1533.Udal,Floures for Latine Spekynge, fo. 101. What is the matter, foolishgiglotte? What meanest thou? Whereat laughest thou?
1567.Harman,Caveat, leaf 22,back. Therefore let us assemble secretly into the place where he hath appoynted to meet thisgyleotthat is at your house.
1603.Shakspeare,Measure for Measure, v., 1. Let him speak no more: away with thosegiglotstoo, and with the other confederate companion.
1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Gadrouillette, minx,gigle, flirt.
1620.Massienger,Fatal Dowry, Act. iii. If this be The recompence of striving to preserve A wantongigglethonest, very shortly ’Twill make all mankind pandars.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue.Gigglers, wanton women.
Adj.(old).—Loose in word and deed. Alsogiglet-like, andgiglet-wise= like a wanton.
1598.Shakspeare,1 Henry IV., Act v., Sc. 1. Young Talbot was not born To be the pillage of agiglotwench.
1600.Fairfax,Jerusalem Delivered, vi., 72. That thou wilt gad by night ingiglet-wise, Amid thine armed foes to seek thy shame.
Gild,verb.(old).—To make drunk; to flush with drink.
1609.Shakspeare,Tempest, Act v., Sc. 1. This grand liquor that hathgildedthem.
1620.Fletcher,Chances, iv., 3. Is she not drunk, too? A littlegildedo’er, sir.
To gild the pill,phr.(colloquial).—To say, or do, unpleasant things as gently as may be; to impose upon; tobamboozle(q.v.).
Gilded Rooster,subs. phr.(American).—A man of importance; ahowling swell(q.v.); sometimesthe gilded rooster on the top of the steeple.Cf.,big-bug;big dog of the tanyard, etc.
1888.New York Herald.We admit that as a metropolis Chicago is thegilded rooster on top of the steeple, but evengilded roostershave no right to the whole corn bin.
Gilderoy’s Kite.To be hung higher than gilderoy’s kite,verb. phr.(old).—To be punished more severely than the very worst criminals. ‘The greater the crime the higher the gallows’ was at one time a practical legal axiom. Hence, out of sight; completely gone.
Giles’ Greek.SeeSt. Giles’ Greek.[143]
Gilguy,subs.(nautical).—Anything which happens to have slipped the memory; equivalent towhat’s-his-nameorthingamytight.
Gilkes,subs.(old).—Skeleton keys.
1610.Rowlands,Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874).Gilkesor the Gigger, false keyes for the doore or picklockes.
Gill(orJill),subs.(old).—1. A girl; (2) a sweetheart:e.g., ‘every Jack must have hisGill’; (3) a wanton, a strumpet (an abbreviation ofgillian). For synonyms,seeJomerandTitter.
1586–1606.Warner,Albion’s England, bk. vii., ch. 37. The simplestgillor knave.
1598.Florio,A Worlde of Wordes,Palandrina, a common queane, a harlot, a strumpet, agill.
1620.Percy,Folio MSS., p. 104. There is neuer a Jacke forgill.
1659.Torriano,Vocabolario, s.v.
2. (common).—a drink; ago(q.v.).
1785.Burns,Scots Drink. Haill breeks, a scone, andwhisky gill.
3.in. pl.‘g’ hard (colloquial).—The mouth or jaws; the face.SeePotato-trapandDial.
1622.Bacon,Historia Naturalis. Redness about the cheeks andgills.
1632.Jonson,Magnetic Lady, i. He … draws all the parish wills, Designs the legacies, and strokes thegillsof the chief mourners.
b.1738.Wolcot,Pindar’s Works(1809), i., 8. Whether you look all rosy round thegills, Or hatchet-fac’d like starving cats so lean.
1820.Lamb,Elia(Two Races of Men). What a careless, even deportment hath your borrower! what rosygills!
1855.Thackeray,Newcomes, ch. viii. Binnie, as brisk and rosy about thegillsas chanticleer, broke out in a morning salutation.
1884.Punch.He went a bit red in thegills.
4.in. pl.(common).—A very large shirt collar; alsostick-upsandsideboards. Fr.:cache-bonbon-à-liqueur= a stick-up.
1859.Sala,Twice Round the Clock, 6 p., in Part 7. With a red face, shaven to the superlative degree of shininess, withgillswhite and tremendous, with a noble white waistcoat.
1884.Daily Telegraph, July 8, p. 5, c. 4. Lord Macaulay wore, to the close of his life, ‘stick-ups,’ orgills.
To grease the gills.—verb.phr.(common).—To have a good meal;to wolf(q.v.).
To look blue(orqueer, orgreen)about the gills,verb. phr.(common).—To be downcast or dejected; also to suffer from the effects of a debauch. Hence, conversely,to be rosy about the gills= to be cheerful.
1836.M. Scott,Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. ii. Most of them were very white andblue in the gillswhen we sat down, and others of a dingy sort of whitey-brown, while they ogled the viands in a most suspicious manner.
1892.G. Manville Fenn,Witness to the Deed, ch. ii. You look precious seedy.White about the gills.
A cant(ordig)in the gills,phr.(pugilists’).—A punch in the face.SeeBang.
Gill-flirt,subs.(old).—A wanton; a flirt. For synonyms,seeBarrack HackandTart.
1598.Florio,A Worlde of Wordes.
1611.Cotgrave,Dictionarie.Gaultiere, a whore, punke, drab, queane,gill,flirt.[144]
1690. B. E.,Dict, of the Cant. Crew, s.v. A proud minx.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
Gilly,subs.(American).—A fool. For synonyms,seeBuffleandCabbage-head.
Gilly-gaupus,subs. phr.(Scots).—A tall loutish fellow.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gilt,subs.(popular).—1. Money. [Ger.:Geld; Du.:Geld.]
English Synonyms.—Add to those underActual:—Charms; checks; cole or coal; coliander seeds; corn in Egypt; crap; darby; dots; ducats; gingerbread; kelter; lowie; lurries; moss; oil of palms; palm-oil; peck; plums; rhino; rivets; salt; sawdust; scad; screen; scuds; shigs; soap; spoon; steven; sugar; tea-spoons; tinie.
French Synonyms.—Le galtos(popular);l’odeur de gousset(obsolete);l’onguent(= palm grease, Sp.,unguento; the simile is common to most languages);le morlingue(thieves’);la menouille(popular);le michon(thieves’: frommiche, a loaf,cf.,Loaver);les monacos(popular);le monarque(prostitutes’: primarily a five franc piece);le blé(= corn or loaver);les étoffes(thieves’).
Spanish Synonyms.—La lana(= wool);la morusa(colloquial);la mosca(= the flies);lo numerario;la pelusa(= down);lo zurraco(colloquial);lo unguento de Mejico(= Mexican Grease);a’ toca teja(colloquial: ready money);caire.
Italian Synonyms.—Cucchi;cuchieri;cucchielli;lugani.
German Synonyms.—Fuchs(= fox: an allusion to the ruddy hue of gold pieces);fuxigorfuxern= golden, red;fuchsmelochener(= goldsmith);gipsorgyps(Viennese thieves’, from the Latin,gypsum);hora(= ready-money: from the Hebrewheren);kall(Han: especially small change: from Heb.kal= lowly light);kis,kies,kiss(applied both to money in general and the receptacle or purse in which it is carried);lowe,love(Han.);mepaie(from the Fr.,payer)mesumme,linke mesumme(= counterfeit money);moos(from Heb.,mëo= a little stone);pich,picht, orpech;staub(= dust).
1599.Shakspeare,Henry V., Act ii.Chorus.These corrupted men … have for thegiltof France (O guilt, indeed) Confirmed conspiracy.
1714.Memoirs of John Hall(4th ed.), p. 9. And from thence conducted (provided he hasgilt) over the way to Hell.
1885.Daily News, 25 May, p. 3, c. 1. Disputatious like mobs grouped together to discuss whether Charrington or Crowder had the mostgilt.
2.subs.(old).—A thief; a pick-lock; alsogilt-orrum-dubber,gilter, etc.
1669.Nicker NickedinHarl. Misc.(ed. Park), ii., 108 (given in list of names of thieves).
1673.Character of a Quack Astrologer.For that purpose he maintains as strict a correspondence withgiltsand lifters.
1676.Warning for Housekeepers, p. 3. Thegilteris one that hath all sorts of picklocks and false keys.
1680.Cotton,Complete Gamester, p. 333. Shoals of muffs, hectors, setters,gilts, pads, biters, etc. … may all pass under the general appellation of snobs.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.[145]
1882.McCabe,New York, ch. xxxiv., 509.Gilt-dubber, a hotel thief.
3. (thieves’).—Formerly a pick-lock or skeleton key; now a crow-bar. For synonyms,seeJemmy.
1671.R. Head,English Rogue, Pt. 1, ch. v., p. 50 (1874).Gilt, a pick-lock.
1724.E. Coles,Eng. Dict.Gilt,c.a pick-lock.
1839.W. H. Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard, p. 183 (ed. 1840). We shall have the whole village upon us while you’re striking the jigger. Use thegilt, man!
To take the gilt off the gingerbread,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To destroy an illusion; to discount heavily.
1884.Hawley Smart,From Post to Finish, p. 171. You see we had a rattling good year all round last, bar the Dancing Master. Hetook the gilt off the gingerbreadconsiderably.
Gilt-dubber,seegilt, sense 2.
Gilt-edged,adj.(American).—First-class; the best of its kind; a latter-day superlative. For synonyms,seeA1 andFizzing.
c.1889.Chicago Tribune(quoted inSlang, Jargon, and Cant). He’s agilt-edgedidiot to play the game.
1891.Standard, 18 June, p. 2, c. 1. ‘Gilt-edgedmutton’ is the latest of glorified and ‘boomed’ American products.
1891.Tit Bits, 8 Aug., p. 286, c. 2. Another accomplishment, peculiar to thegilt-edgedacademy, is learning to eat asparagus, oranges, grapes, etc.
Gilter,seegilt, sense 2.
Gilt-tick,subs.(costermongers’). Gold.
Gimbal-(orgimber-)Jawed,adj.(common).—Loquacious; talkingnineteen to the dozen(q.v.). [Gimbals are a combination of rings for free suspension; hence applied to persons the joints of whose jaws are loose in speech.]
Gimcrack(Gincrack, orJimcrack),subs.(old).—1. A showy simpleton, male or female; adandy(q.v.).
1618.BeaumontandFletcher,Loyal Subject, iv., 3. These are finegimcracks; hey, here comes another, a flagon full of wine in his hand.
1637.Fletcher,Elder Brother, iii., 3. You are a handsome and a sweet young lady, And ought to have a handsome man yoked to ye. An understanding too; this is agimcrackThat can get nothing but new fashions on you.
1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Canting Crew.Gimcrack, a spruce wench.
1706.Mrs. Centlivre,Basset Table, II.,Works(1872), i., 122. The philosophicalgimcrack.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
2. (colloquial).—A showy trifle; anything pretty to look at but of very little worth.
1632.ChapmanandShirley,The Ball, Act iv.Lu.There remains, To take away one sample.Wi.Anothergimcrack?
1678.Butler,Hudibras, pt. 3, ch. i. Rifled all his pokes and fobs.Cf.,gimcracks, whims, and jiggumbobs.
1698–1700.Ward,London Spy, pt. 7, p. 148. I suppose there being little else to lose except scenes, machines, or some suchjim-cracks.
1843.Thackeray,Irish Sketch Book, ch. i. There was the harp of Brian Boru, and the sword of some one else, and other cheap oldgimcrackswith their corollary of lies.
1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 63. Such rum-lookinggimcracks, my pippin.
3. (provincial).—A handy man; ajack-of-all-trades(q.v.).
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Agimcrackalso means a person who has a turn for mechanical contrivances.[146]
4. (venery).—The femalepudendum. [A play on sense 2, andcrack, (q.v.).] For synonym,seeMonosyllable.
Adj.(colloquial).—Trivial; showy; worthless.
1855.Thackeray,Newcomes, ch. ix. No shops so beautiful to look at as the Brightongimcrackshops, and the fruit shops, and the market.
1891.W. C. Russell,An Ocean Tragedy, p. 30. Soberly clothed with nothing moregimcrackin the way of finery upon him than a row of waistcoat-buttons.
1892.Tit Bits, 19 Mar., p. 425 c. 2. A large cabinet or wardrobe, beautifully carved, and very substantial, nogimcrackwork.
Gimcrackery,subs.(colloquial).—The world ofgimcrack(q.v.).
1884.A. Forbes, inEng. Illustr. Mag., Jan., p. 230. The inner life of the Empire was a strange mixture of rottenness andgimcrackery.
Gimlet-eye,subs.(common).—A squint-eye; apiercer(q.v.). Fr.:des yeux en trou de pine.
Gimlet-eyed,adj.(common).—Squinting, or squinny-eyed; cock-eyed. As in the old rhyme: ‘Gimlet eye, sausage nose, Hip awry, bandy toes.’
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gimmer,subs.(Scots’).—An old woman. A variant of ‘cummer.’
Gin,subs.(Australian).—An Australian native woman.
1857.Kingsley,Two Years Ago, ch. xiii. An Australian settler’s wife bestows on some poor slavinggina cast-off French bonnet.
1890.Hume Nisbet,Bail Up!, p. 30.
2. (Australian).—An old woman. For synonyms,seeGeezer.
Gin-and-gospel Gazette,subs. phr.(journalists’).—TheMorning Advertiser: as the organ of the Licensed Victualling and Church of England party. Also theTap-tubandbeer-and-bible gazette.
Gin-and-Tidy,adv. phr.(American).—Decked out in ‘best bib and tucker.’ A pun on ‘neat spirits.’
Gin-crawl,subs.(common).—Atipple(q.v.) on gin.
1892.A. Chevalier, ‘The Little Nipper.’ I used to do agin crawlev’rynight, An’ very, very often come ’ome tight.
Gingambobs(orJiggumbobs),subs.(common).—1. Toys; baubles.
1690. B. E.Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
2. (venery).—The testicles; alsothingambobs. For synonyms,seeCods.
Ginger,subs.(common).—1. A fast, showy horse; a beast that looksfigged(q.v.).
1859.Notes and Queries, 17 Dec. p. 493. Agingeris a showy fast horse.
2. (common).—A red-haired person;carrots(q.v.). [Whence the phrase (venery) ‘Black for beauty,gingerfor pluck.’]
1885.Miss TennantinEng. Illustrated Magazine, June, p. 605. The policemen are well known to the boys, and appropriately named by them. There is ‘Jumbo,’ too stout to run;ginger, the red-haired.
3. (common).—Spirit; dash;go(q.v.).To want ginger= to lack energy andpluck(q.v.).
1888.The World, 13 May. You will remark that your spinal column is requiring a hinge, and that considerablegingeris departing from your resolution to bear up and enjoy yourself.[147]
1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody of Nowhere, p. 124. If father objects send him to me, I’ll take thegingerout of him in short order.
1892.R. L. StevensonandL. Osbourne,The Wrecker; p. 207. Give herginger, boys.
Adj.(common).—Red-haired;foxy(q.v.);judas-haired(q.v.). Alsoginger-pated,ginger-hackled, andgingery.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Red-haired; a term borrowed from the cock-pit, where red cocks are calledgingers.
1839.H. Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard, ch. xii. Somebody may be on the watch—perhaps that oldginger-hackledJew.
1852.Dickens,Bleak House, ch. xix., p. 160. The very learned gentleman who has cooled the natural heat of hisgingerycomplexion in pools and fountains of law, until he has become great in knotty arguments for term-time.
1878.M. E. Braddon,Cloven Foot, ch. iv. The landlady was a lean-looking widow, with a false front ofgingerycurls.
Gingerbread,subs.(old).—1. Money:e.g., ‘He has thegingerbread’ = he is rich.
1690. B. E.Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1834.Ainsworth,Rookwood. Your old dad had thegingerbread.
1864.Standard, 13 Dec. We do not find … the wordgingerbreadused for money, as we have heard it both before and within the last six months. The origin of the use of the word may probably be the old fairy legends wherein the coin obtained over night from the elves was usually found in the morning to have turned into little gingerbread cakes.
2. (colloquial).—Brummagem(q.v.); showy, but worthless ware.
Adj.(colloquial).—Showy but worthless; tinsel. Fr.,en pain d’épice.Gingerbread work(nautical) = carved and gilded decorations;gingerbread quarters(nautical) = luxurious living.
1757.Smollett,Compendium of Voyages and Travels. The rooms are too small and too much decorated with carving and gilding, which is a kind ofgingerbreadwork.
To take the gilt off the gingerbread.Seegilt.
Gingerly,adj.andadv.(old: now recognised).—Asadj., delicate; fastidious; dainty; asadv., with great care; softly.
1533.Udal,Floures for Latine Spekynge. We stayghe and prolonge our goyng, with a nyce or tendre and softe, delicate, orgingerlypace.
c.1563.Jacke Jugeler, p. 40 (ed. Grosart). We used to call her at home Dame Coye, a pretiegingerliepice [piece].
1592.Nashe,Pierce Penilesse, inWks., ii., 32. That lookes as simperingly as if she were besmeared, and sits it asgingerlyas if she were dancing the Canaries.
1611.Chapman,May-Day, Act iii., p. 294 (Plays, 1874). Come, come,gingerly; for God’s sake,gingerly.
1659.Torriano,Vocabolario,q.v.
1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v. Gently, softly, easily.
1759–67.Sterne,Tristram Shandy, vol. V., ch. v. My mother was going verygingerlyin the dark.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. To gogingerlyto work,i.e., to attempt a thing gently, or cautiously.
1874.Mrs. H. Wood,Johnny Ludlow, 1 S. 12, p. 207. The Squire went ingingerly, as if he had been treading on a spiked ploughshare.
Ginger-pop,subs.(colloquial).—1. Ginger-beer.
2. (rhyming).—A policeman; aslop(q.v.).
1887.Dagonet,Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, c. 3. Ere her bull-dog I could stop, She had called aginger-pop.
Ginger-snap,subs.(American).—A hot-tempered person, especially one with carrotty hair.[148]
Gingham,subs.(common).—An umbrella; specifically one of this material. For synonyms,seeMushroom.
1868.Miss Braddon,Trail of the Serpent, Bk. I., ch. vii. Mr. Peters therefore took immediate possession by planting his honestginghamin a corner of the room.
1889.Sportsman, 2 Feb. It would really put a premium on the many little mistakes of ownership concerningginghamsat present so common.
Gingle-boy,subs.(old).—A coin; latterly a gold piece. AlsoGingler.SeeActualandCanary.
1622.MassingerandDekker,Virgin Martyr, ii., 2. The sign of thegingleboyshangs at the door of our pockets.
Gingumbobs.SeeGingambobs.
Ginicomtwig,verb.(venery).—To copulate. For synonyms,seeRide.
1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes,Scuotere il pellicione.Toginicomtwigor occupie a woman.
Gin-lane(orTrap),subs.(common).—1. The throat. For synonyms,seeGutter-alley.Gin-trap, also = the mouth. For synonyms,seePotato-trap.
1827.Egan,Anecdotes of the Turf, p. 67. Never again could … he feel his ivories loose within hisgin-trap.
2. (common).—Generic for the habit of drunkenness.
1839.Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard[1889], p. 8. Let me advise you on no account to fly to strong waters for consolation, Joan. One nail drives out another, it’s true; but the worst nail you can employ is a coffin nail.Gin Lane’sthe nearest road to the churchyard.
Gin-mill,subs.(American).—A drinking saloon. For synonyms,seeLush-crib.
1872.Belgravia, Dec. ‘A Presidential Election.’ Then goes off to rejoin his comrades, to adjourn to the nearestgin-mill.
Ginnified,subs.(common).—Dazed, or stupid, with liquor.
Ginnums,subs.(common).—An old woman: especially one fond of drink.
Ginny,subs.(old).—A housebreaker’s tool;seequot., 1754.
1690. B. E.,Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v.
1754.Scoundrels’ Dict.An instrument to lift up a grate or grating, to steal what is in the window. ‘The ninth is aginny, to lift up the grate, If he sees but the Lurry, with his Hooks he will bait.’
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gin-penny,subs.(costermongers’).—Extra profit, generally spent in drink.
Gin-slinger,subs.(common).—A gin-drinker. For synonyms,seeLushington.
Gin-spinner,subs.(old).—A distiller; a dealer in spirituous liquors.Cf.,Ale-spinner.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1827.Egan,Anecdotes of the Turf, p. 179. Just as she was about to toddle to thegin-spinner’sfor the ould folk and lisp out for a quartern of Max.
1888.F. Green, inNotes and Queries, 7 S., vi., 153. I have always understood that agin spinneris a distiller who makes gin, but could never find out why so called.
Gin-twist,subs.(common).—A drink composed of gin and sugar, with lemon and water.
1841.Comic Almanac, p. 271 What, for instance, butgin-twistcould have brought Oliver Twist to light?[149]
Gin Up,verb.(American).—To work hard; to make things lively orhum(q.v.). For synonyms,seeWire in.
1887.Francis,Saddle and Moccassin. They wereginningherup, that’s a fact.
Gip,subs.(American thieves’).—1. A thief. 2. Also (Cambridge University) a college servant.SeeGyp. For synonyms,seeThieves.
Girl,subs.(common).—1. A prostitute;in. pl.= the stock in trade of a brothel.SeeBarrack Hack,Tart, andGay. Fr.,fille.