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.
Gīg'gle, n. p. 569A kind of laugh, with short catches of the voice or breath.Gig'gle, v. i. p. 569To laugh with short catches of the breath or voice; to laugh in a light, frolicsome, or silly manner; to titter; to grin with childish levity or mirth. Giggling and laughing with all their might At…Gig'gler, n. p. 569One who giggles or titters.Gig'let or Gig'lot, n. p. 569A wanton; a lascivious girl. [Obs.] The giglet is willful, and is running upon her fate. W. Scott.Gig'let-wīse, n. p. 569A wanton manner. [Obs. and R.] Thou wilt gad by night in giglet-wise. Fairfax.Gig'lot, a. p. 569Giddy; light; Inconstant; wanton. “O giglot fortune.” Shak.Gig'ot, n. p. 569A leg of mutton; hence, a piece of flesh. [Obs.] In gigots cut the other fit for meat. (Chapman.)Gil'bert-īne, n. p. 569(Eccl. Hist.) One of a religious order, so named from Gilbert, lord of Sempringham, in Lincolnshire, England, about A. D. 1148. The monks observed the rule of St. Augustine, the nuns that of St.…Gild, v. t. p. 569To overlay or overspread with a thin covering of gold; as, a gilt frame; hence, to cover or color with a gold-like color. Her joy in gilded chariots when alive, And love of ombre, after death…Gild'āle, n. p. 569A drinking bout in which every one pays an equal share. [Obs.]Gĭld'en, a. p. 569Gilded. [Obs.] “Gilden pillar.” Holland.Gild'er, n. p. 569One who gilds; one whose occupation is to overlay things with gold. 2. A Dutch coin, of the value of twenty stivers, about thirty-eight cents, or one shilling and ninepence sterling. [Usually written…Gild'ing, n. p. 569The art or practice of overlaying things with gold leaf, or a thin coating of gold. 2. That which is overlaid in gilding; a thin surface of gold covering some other substance.Gĭll, n. p. 569(Physiol.) A ciliated organ of respiration, generally in the form of folds or of leaf-like tufts, by means of which the oxygen dissolved in a surrounding fluid is absorbed and combined with the…Gĭll, n. p. 569A measure of capacity containing the fourth part of a pint.Gĭll, n. p. 569(Bot.) A plant of the genus Nepeta; the ground-ivy. See GROUND-IVY. 2. Malt liquor medicated with ground-ivy.Gĭll, n. p. 569A young woman; a sportive or wanton girl. “Each Jack with his Gill.” B. Jonson.Gill'-āle, n. p. 569Ale flavored with gill, or ground-ivy.Gill'-flāp, n. p. 569A membrane attached to the posterior edge of the gill-lid, immediately closing the gill-opening.Gill'-flīrt, n. p. 569A sportive or wanton girl; the same as JILL-FLIRT. I care no more for such gill-flirt, said the jester, than I do for thy leasings. W. Scott.Gill'-house, n. p. 569A place where the liquor gill is sold. Pope.Gĭl'li-an, n. p. 569A girl; a wanton; a gill. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Gill'ile, n. p. 569A boy; a page or menial. W. Scott.Gill'-līd, n. p. 569The covering of the gills.Gill'-ō'pen-ing, n. p. 569The external opening by means of which the water from the gills, as in fishes, passes off.Gill'y-flow'er, n. p. 569(Bot.) A plant of the genus Matthiola (especially the M. incana), called also purple gillyflower; stock.Gĭlse, n. p. 569A kind of salmon. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Gĭlt, imp. & p. p. p. 569of gild.Gĭlt, n. p. 569Gold laid on the surface of a thing; gilding. Shak. 2. [Prov. Eng. gilt, a spayed sow, and sometimes a young pig or sow. See GELT, n., and GELD, v. t.] A young female pig. [Prov. Eng.]Gĭlt'-hĕad, n. p. 569(Ichth.) A kind of fish;— the name is applied to two species: the Chrysophrys aurata, found in the Mediterranean, — so named from a golden-colored space over the eyebrows,—and the Crenilabrus tinca…Gĭlt'-tāil, n. p. 569A kind of worm, so called from its yellow tail. Johnson.Gĭm, a. p. 569Neat; spruce; well-dressed. [Obs. or rare and local.]Gim'bal, n. p. 569A contrivance for securing free motion in suspension, or for suspending any thing, as a chronometer, ship’s compass, marine barometer, &c., so that it may keep a constant position, or remain in…Gim'crack, n. p. 570A trivial mechanism; a device; a toy; a pretty thing. Arbuthnot.Gim'let, n. p. 570A borer; a small instrument, usually with a pointed screw at the end, for boring holes by turning it with the hand.Gĭm'let, v. t. p. 570To pierce with a gimlet. 2. (Naut.) To turn round, as an anchor, by the stock, that is, with a motion like the turning of a gimlet.Gĭm'let-eȳe, n. p. 570A squint-eye. Wright.Gĭm'mal, n. p. 570Joined work whose parts move within each other, as a bridle bit or interlocked rings. In their pale, dull mouths, the gimmal-bit Lies foul with chewed grass. Shak. 2. A quaint piece of machinery.…Gĭm'mer, n. p. 570Movement or machinery. [Obs.] “The gimmers of the world.” More.Gimp, n. p. 570A kind of silk, woolen, or cotton twist, often with a metallic wire, or sometimes a coarse thread, running through it, used as trimming for dresses, &c.Gĭmp, a. p. 570Smart; spruce; trim; nice. [Obs. or Prov.]Gĭn, n. p. 570A distilled spirit or alcoholic liquor, manufactured in Holland from rye and barley, and flavored with juniper berries and sometimes with hops.Gĭn, n. p. 570A machine or instrument by which the mechanical powers are employed in aid of human strength; especially, a machine consisting of a tripod formed of poles united at the top, one of them being longer…Gĭn, v. t. p. 570To clear of seeds by a machine; as, to gin cotton. 2. To catch in a trap. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Gĭn, v. i. p. 570To begin. [Obs.] Spenser.Gĭng, n. p. 570The same as GANG, q. v. [Obs.] There is a knot, a ging, a pack, a conspiracy against me. Shak.Gĭn'gal, n. p. 570A light gun mounted on a carriage so as to be carried easily by men or by animals. [Written also jingal.] Oliphant.Gin′ger, n. p. 570(Bot.) A plant of the genus Zinziber, found in both the East and West Indies. The species most commonly known is Z. officinalis, the hot and spicy root of which is extensively used in cookery and in…Gin'ger-beer, n. p. 570A sort of beer impregnated with ginger;—called also ginger-pop.Gin'ger-brēad, n. p. 570A kind of plain sweet cake flavored with ginger.Gin'ger-brĕad-tree, n. p. 570(Bot.) The doom-palm;—so called from the resemblance of its rind to gingerbread. See DOOM-PALM.Gin'ger-brēad Work p. 570Work cut, carved, or formed in various fanciful shapes for ornament, like the figures on gingerbread, or those into which gingerbread is shaped. [Colloq.] Gross.Gin'ger-ly, adv. p. 570Nicely; cautiously; fastidiously; daintily. Dickens. What is it you took up so gingerly? Shak.Gin'ger-ness, n. p. 570Niceness; tenderness. [Obs.]Gin'ger-pŏp, n. p. 570See GINGER-BEER.Gin'ger-wīne, n. p. 570Wine impregnated with ginger.Ging'ham, n. p. 570A kind of cotton cloth, the yarn of which is dyed before it is woven; — distinguished from printed cotton or prints.Gĭng'ging, n. p. 570(Mining.) The lining of a mine-shaft with stones or bricks for its support.Gĭn'gi-val, a. p. 570Pertaining to the gums. Holder.Gĭn'gle, n., and v. t. & i. p. 570See JINGLE.