Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Găl'va-nŏl'o-gĭst, n. p. 556One who describes the phenomena of galvanism.Găl'va-nŏl'o-gy, n. p. 556A treatise on galvanism, or a description of its phenomena.Gāl'va-nŏm'e-ter, n. p. 556An instrument or apparatus for measuring the force of minute quantities of galvanic electricity. Ure.Gal-vā'no-plās'tic, a. p. 557Pertaining to the art or process of electro-typing. Tomlinson.Gal-vān'o-scōpe, n. p. 557An instrument or apparatus for detecting the presence of minute quantities of galvanic electricity.Gā'ma-grāss, n. p. 557(Bot.) A species of grass; Tripsacum dactyloides. It is tall, stout, and exceedingly productive, and is cultivated in the West Indies, and somewhat in the Southern States of North America, as a…Ga-māsh'es, n. pl. p. 557Short spatterdashes similar to gaiters. [Obs.] Shelton.Gam-bā'do, n. p. 557A case of leather, formerly used to defend the leg from mud, and in riding on horseback. His thin legs tenanted a pair of gambadoes fastened at the side with rusty clasps. W. Scott.Găm'bet or Gam-bē'tā, n. p. 557(Ornith.) A bird, of the size of the greenshank, found in the Arctic Sea, and in Scandinavia and Iceland. Pennant.Gām'bier, n. p. 557The inspissated juice of a plant (the Uncaria gambir) growing in Malacca. It is a powerful astringent, much used in dyeing and tanning. It is also eaten with betel-nuts. By tanners it is called Terra…Găm'bi-son, n. p. 557A stuffed doublet worn under armor. [Obs.] Toone.Gām'bist, n. p. 557(Mus.) A performer upon the viola di gamba. See VIOLA.Găm'bit, n. p. 557(Chess-playing.) A mode of opening the game; a peculiar movement made on beginning to play. ☞ “There are many forms of gambit at chess, and in every one there is the sacrifice of a pawn early in the…Găm'ble, v. i. p. 557To play or game for money or other stake.Găm'ble, v. t. p. 557To lose or squander by gaming; — usually with away. Bankrupts or sots who have gambled or slept away their estates. Ames.Găm'bler, n. p. 557One who gambles; one who games or plays for money or other stake.Gam-bōgē' or Gam-bō'ge, n. p. 557A concrete vegetable juice, or gum-resin, produced by several species of trees growing in Siam, Ceylon, and Malabar. It is brought in masses, or cylindrical rolls, from Cambodia, or Cambogia, whence…Gam-bō'gi-an or Gam-bō'gie, a. p. 557Pertaining to, resembling, or containing, gamboge.Găm'bol, v. i. p. 557To dance and skip about in sport; to frisk; to play in frolic, like boys and lambs. 2. To leap; to start. Shak.Găm'bol, n. p. 557A skipping or leaping about in frolic; a skip; a hop; a leap; a sportive prank. Dryden.Gām'brēl, n. p. 557The hind leg of a horse. 2. A stick crooked like a horse's leg, used by butchers in suspending animals which have been slaughtered for the purpose of dressing and weighing them.Gambrel roof p. 557a hipped roof; a mansard or curb roof. [U. S.] [See Illust. of Curb-roof.]Gămʹbrel, v. t. p. 557To tie by the leg. Beau. & Fl.Gam-brōgān', n. p. 557(Manuf.) A kind of twilled linen cloth for lining. Simmonds.Gāme, n. p. 557[A-S. gamen, gomen, play, joke, Icel. gaman, joke, Dan. gammen, O. Sw. gamman, gaman, joy, O. H. Ger. gaman, joy, jest, allied to Skr. kam, to love. See infra. 1. Sport of any kind; jest; frolic. We…Gāme, a. p. 557Having a resolute, unyielding spirit, like that of the game-cock; ready to fight to the last; courageous; brave; resolute. I was game . . . I felt that I could have fought even to the death. F.…Gāme, v. i. p. 557To play at any sport or diversion. 2. To play for a stake or prize; to use cards, dice, billiards, or other instruments, according to certain rules, with a view to win money or other thing waged upon…Gāme'-cōck, n. p. 557A cock bred or used to fight; a cock kept for barbarous sport. Locke.Gāme'-egg, n. p. 557An egg from which a fighting cock is bred. Garth.Gāme'ful, a. p. 557Full of game or games.Gāme'keep'er, n. p. 557One who has the care of game, especially in a park or preserve; one who is authorized to preserve beasts of the chase, or animals kept for sport. Blackstone.Gāme'-laws, n. pl. p. 557Laws for the preservation of those animals which constitute game. [Eng.]Gāme'-lĕg, n. p. 557A lame or crooked leg. [Colloq.]Gāme'less, a. p. 557Destitute of game.Gāme'sōme, a. p. 557Gay; sportive; playful; frolicsome. “Gladness of the gamesome crowd.” Byron.Gāme'sōme-ly, adv. p. 557In a gamesome manner; merrily; playfully.Gāme'sōme-ness, n. p. 557Sportiveness; merriment.Gāme'ster, n. p. 557A merry, frolicsome person. [Obs.] Shak. 2. A person who plays at games; especially, one accustomed to play for money or other stake at cards, dice, billiards, and the like; a gambler; one skilled in…Gamin, n. p. 557A neglected and unruly child in the streets. In Japan the gamins run after you, and say, “Look at the Chinaman.” Oliphant.Găm'ma-rŭs, n. p. 557(Zoöl.) A genus of crustaceans, including the sand-flea or sand-hopper.Găm'mer, n. p. 557An old wife;—correlative of gaffer, as applied to an old man.Gām'mon, n. p. 557The buttock or thigh of a hog, pickled and smoked or dried; a smoked ham. 2. A certain game with dice; backgammon. 3. An imposition or hoax; humbug.Gām'mon, v. t. p. 557To make bacon of; to pickle and dry in smoke. 2. (Naut.) To fasten, as a bowsprit to the stem of a ship, by several turns of a rope. Totten.Gām'mon, v. t. p. 557To beat or excel in the game of backgammon, by withdrawing all one's counters from the board through fortunate throws of the dice, or by superior skill in moving, before an antagonist has been able…Gām'mon-ing, n. p. 557(Naut.) The lashing by which the bowsprit of a vessel is secured to the stem. Dana. 2. The act of imposing upon a person by making him believe improbable stories.Gām'ō-pēt'al-oŭs, a. p. 557(Bot.) Having the petals united or joined so as to form a tube; monopetalous. Gray.Ga-mōph'yl-loŭs or Gām-o-phŷl'loŭs, a. p. 557(Bot.) Composed of leaves united by their edges. Gray.Găm'o-sĕp'al-oŭs, a. p. 557(Bot.) Formed of united sepals; monosepalous. (Gray.)Gām'ut, n. p. 557(Mus.) The scale;—so called from the first tone of the model scale of Guido, which was represented by gamma.Gām'y, a. p. 557(Cookery.) Having the flavor or condition of dead game when kept uncooked until it verges on the state of being tainted, which is considered its highest excellence; as, gamy venison. 2. (Sporting.)…Gān, imp. p. 557of gin. Began; commenced. See GIN.Gānch, v. t. p. 557To drop from a high place on sharp stakes or hooks, as the Turks do malefactors, by way of punishment. Ganching, which is to let fall from on high upon hooks, and there to hang until they die. Sandys.Gān'der, n. p. 557The male of the goose.Gāng, v. i. p. 557To go; to walk. † Obsolete in English literature, but still used in the North of England, and also in Scotland.Gāng, n. p. 557A number going in company; hence, a company, or a number of persons associated for a particular purpose; a gang of sailors, &c.;—ordinarily used in respect to persons in low or servile positions; as…Gāng'-bōard, n. p. 557(Naut.) (a.) A board or plank, with cleats for steps, used for walking into or out of a boat. Falconer. (b.) A plank placed within or without the bulwarks of a vessel’s waist, for the sentinel to…Gāng'-cask, n. p. 557A small cask used for bringing water aboard ships in boats.Gāng'-dāys, n. pl. p. 557Rogation-days; the time of perambulating parishes. See GANG-WEEK.Gan-gēt'ic, a. p. 557(Geog.) Pertaining to the Ganges; living in or by the Ganges; as, the Gangetic crocodile.Gān'gli-ae or Gān'gli-al, a. p. 557Relating to a ganglion; ganglionic.