# Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Grope Gyve

fāte, fär; mē, hėr; mīne; mōte; mūte; mōōn; then.
Grope, grōp, v.i. to search for something, as if blind or in the dark.—v.t. to search by feeling.—adv. Grop′ingly, in a groping manner. [A.S. grápian, to seize; allied to grab, gripe.]
Grosbeak, grōs′bēk, n. a name applied to not a few highly specialised finches (Fringillidæ), with thick, heavy, seed-crushing bills—also to many other birds, as the cardinal grosbeaks and the rose-breasted grosbeak. [Gross and beak.]
Groschen, grō′shen, n. a small silver coin till 1873-76 current in the north of Germany, in value 1⁄30th of a thaler. [Ger.,—L. grossus, thick.]
Groser, grō′ser, n. (prov.) a gooseberry—(Scot.) Gros′sart.—adj. Grossulā′ceous, pertaining to the gooseberry. [See Gooseberry.]
Gross, grōs, adj. coarse: rough: dense: palpable, glaring, shameful: whole: coarse in mind: stupid: sensual: obscene.—n. the main bulk: the whole taken together: a great hundred—i.e. twelve dozen.—adv. Gross′ly.—n. Gross′ness.—In gross, in bulk, wholesale. [Fr. gros—L. grossus, thick.]
Grotesque, grō-tesk′, adj. extravagantly formed: ludicrous.—n. (art) extravagant ornament, containing animals, plants, &c. not really existing.—adv. Grotesque′ly.—ns. Grotesque′ness; Grotesqu′ery. [Fr. grotesque—It. grotesca—grotta, a grotto.]
Grotian, grō′shi-an, adj. of or pertaining to Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), the Latinised form of Huig van Groot, founder of the science of international law.—Grotian theory, the theory that man is essentially a social being, and that the principles of justice are of perpetual obligation and in harmony with his nature; Grotian, or Governmental, theory of the Atonement, a divine acquittal for Christ's sake, rather than a real satisfaction on the part of Christ.
Grotto, grot′ō, n. a cave: a place of shade, for pleasure—also Grot:—pl. Grott′os—n. Grott′o-work, a grotto-like structure. [It. grotta (Fr. grotte)—L. crypta—Gr. kryptē, a crypt.]
Ground, grownd, pa.t. and pa.p. of grind.
Ground, grownd, n. the surface of the earth: a portion of the earth's surface: land, field, soil: the floor, &c.: position: field or place of action: (lit. or fig.) that on which something is raised: foundation: sufficient reason: (art) the surface on which the figures are represented.—v.t. to fix on a foundation or principle: to instruct in first principles: to cover with a layer of plaster, &c., as a basis for painting: to coat with a composition, as a surface to be etched.—v.i. to strike the bottom and remain fixed.—ns. Ground′age, the tax paid by a ship for the space occupied while in port; Ground′-ang′ling, fishing without a float, with a weight placed a few inches from the hook—called also Bottom-fishing; Ground′-ash, a sapling of ash; Ground′-bait, bait dropped to the bottom of the water.—adv. Ground′edly (Browning), on good grounds.—ns. Ground′er, at baseball, &c., a ball thrown low rather than rising into the air; Ground′-floor, the floor of a house on a level with the street or exterior ground; Ground′-game, hares, rabbits, as distinguished from winged game; Ground′-hog, the American marmot, or woodchuck: the aardvark of Africa; Ground′-hold (Spens.), ground-tackle; Ground-ice, the ice formed at the bottom of a water first—also An′chor-ice; Ground′ing, the background of embroidery, &c.; Ground′-ī′vy, a common British creeping-plant whose leaves were once used for flavouring ale (gill-ale or gell-ale).—adj. Ground′less, without ground, foundation, or reason.—adv. Ground′lessly.—ns. Ground′lessness; Ground′ling, a fish which keeps near the bottom of the water, esp. the spinous loach: a spectator in the pit of a theatre—-hence one of the common herd: (pl.) the vulgar.—adj. (Lamb) base.—ns. Ground′-nut, ground-bean, or pea-nut, the fruit of the annual leguminous plant Arachis hypogæa; Ground′-oak, a sapling of oak; Ground′-plan, plan of the horizontal section of the lowest or ground story of a building: Ground′-plot, the plot of ground on which a building stands; Ground′-rent, rent paid to a landlord for the use of the ground for a specified term, usually in England ninety-nine years.—n.pl. Grounds, dregs of drink: sediment at the bottom of liquors (explained by Skeat as Celtic—Gael. grunndas, lees, grunnd, bottom, Ir. gruntas, grunnt, bottom).—ns. Ground′sell, Ground′sill, the timber of a building which lies next to the ground; Ground-squirr′el, the chipmuck or hackee; Ground′-swell, a broad, deep undulation of the ocean, proceeding from a distant storm; Ground′-tack′le, the tackle necessary for securing a vessel at anchor; Ground′work, that which forms the ground or foundation of anything: the basis: the essential part: the first principle.—Ground annual, in the law of Scotland, an annual payment, sometimes called a rent-charge, made for land—a substitute for feu-duty.—Be on one's own ground, to be dealing with a matter in which one is specially versed; Break ground, to take the first step in any project; Fall to the ground, to come to nothing; Gain ground, to advance, to obtain an advantage; Give ground, to yield advantage; Lose ground, to retire, to lose advantage; Slippery ground, an insecure footing; Stand, or Hold, one's ground, to stand firm. [A.S. grund; most prob. grund-en, pa.p. of grindan, and orig. meaning 'earth ground small;' cog. with Ger. grund, Ice. grunnr.]
Groundsel, grownd′sel, n. an annual plant, about a foot high, with small yellow flowers. [A.S. grundeswelge—grund, ground, swelgan, to swallow.]
Group, grōōp, n. a number of persons or things together: a number of individual things related, in some definite way differentiating them from others: (art) a combination of figures forming a harmonious whole.—v.t. to form into a group or groups.—v.i. to fall into harmonious combination.—n. Group′ing (art), the act of disposing and arranging figures or objects in a group. [Fr. groupe—It. groppo, a bunch, knot—Teut.; cf. Ger. kropf, protuberance.]
Grouse, grows, n. the heathcock or moorfowl, a plump bird with a short curved bill, short legs, and feathered feet, which frequents Scotch moors and hills—the Scotch ptarmigan, red-grouse: any bird of the family Tetraonidæ, and sub-family Tetraoninæ. [Prob. from the older grice (on the analogy of mouse, mice)—O. Fr. griesche, gray.]
Grout, growt, n. coarse meal: the sediment of liquor: lees: a thin coarse mortar: a fine plaster for finishing ceilings.—n. Grout′ing, the filling up or finishing with grout: the stuff so used.—adj. Grout′y, thick, muddy: sulky. [A.S. grút, coarse meal; cog. with Dut. grut, Ice. grautr, porridge, Ger. grütze, groats.]
Grove, grōv, n. a wood of small size, generally of a pleasant or ornamental character: an avenue of trees: (B.) an erroneous translation of Asherah, the wooden upright image of the lewdly worshipped goddess Ashtoreth; also of Heb. eshel in Gen. xxi. 33.—Groves of Academe, the shady walks of the Academy at Athens, any place of learned pursuits. [A.S. gráf, a grove—grafan, pa.t. gróf, to dig.]
Grovel, grov′el, v.i. to crawl on the earth, esp. in abject fear, &c.: to be base or mean:—pr.p. grov′elling; pa.p. grov′elled.—n. Grov′eller.—adj. Grov′elling, mean. [Explained by Skeat as due to M. E. groveling, flat on the ground, properly an adv., also grofling—Ice. grûfa.]
Grow, grō, v.i. to become enlarged by a natural process: to advance towards maturity: to increase in size: to develop: to become greater in any way: to extend: to improve: to pass from one state to another: to become.—v.t. to cause to grow: to cultivate:—pa.t. grew (grōō); pa.p. grown.—ns. Grow′er; Grow′ing; Growth, a growing: gradual increase: progress: development: that which has grown: product.—Grow on, to gain in the estimation of; Grow out of, to issue from, result from: to pass beyond in development, to give up; Grow to, to advance to; Grow together, to become united by growth; Grow up, to advance in growth, become full-grown; to take root, spring up. [A.S. grówan; Ice. gróa; conn. with green.]
Growl, growl, v.i. to utter a deep, murmuring sound like a dog: to grumble surlily.—v.t. to express by growling.—n. a murmuring, snarling sound, as of an angry dog.—ns. Growl′er, one who growls: a fish of the Perch family, abundant in North American rivers, so named from the sound it emits: (slang) a four-wheeled cab: (Amer.) a jug or pitcher used for carrying beer; Growl′ing, grumbling, snarling: a rumbling sound.—adv. Growl′ingly. [Dut. grollen, to grumble; allied to Gr. gryllizein, to grunt.]
Groyne, groin, n. a wooden breakwater. [Groin.]
Grub, grub, v.i. to dig in the dirt: to be occupied meanly: (slang) to eat.—v.t. to dig or root out of the ground (generally followed by up): (slang) to supply with victuals:—pr.p. grub′bing; pa.p. grubbed.—n. the larva of the beetle, moth, &c.: (slang) something to eat.—n. Grub′ber, he who, or that which, grubs: an agricultural implement for grubbing out weeds, &c., or for clearing and stirring up the soil, with obliquely placed tines or teeth set in a frame and moved forward on wheels.—v.i. and v.t. Grub′ble, to grope.—n. Grub′-street, a street in London inhabited by booksellers' hacks and shabby writers generally.—adj. applied to any mean literary production. [Prob. A.S. grápian, to grope.]
Grudge, gruj, v.t. to murmur at: to look upon with envy: to give or take unwillingly.—v.i. to show discontent.—n. secret enmity or envy: an old cause of quarrel.—adjs. Grudge′ful (Spens.), full of grudge, envious; Grudg′ing, given to grudge.—adv. Grudg′ingly, unwillingly. [M. E. grochen, grucchen—O. Fr. grocer, groucer, from an imitative root seen in Gr. gry, the grunt of a pig; also in growl, grunt.]
Gruel, grōō′el, n. a thin food made by boiling oatmeal in water. [O. Fr. gruel (Fr. gruau), groats—Low L. grutellum, dim. of grutum, meal—Old Low Ger. grut, groats, A.S. grút.]
Gruesome, grōō′sum, adj. horrible: fearful: dismal, depressing.—vs.i. Grue, Grew, to shudder: to feel horror or repulsiveness. [Scand.; Dan. gru, horror, with suff. -som; cf. Dut. gruwzaam, Ger. grausam.]
Gruff, gruf, adj. rough, stern, or abrupt in manner: churlish.—adv. Gruff′ly.—n. Gruff′ness. [Dut. grof; cog. with Sw. grof, Ger. grob, coarse.]
Grum, grum, adj. morose: surly: deep in the throat, as a sound.—adv. Grum′ly.—n. Grum′ness. [A.S. grom; cf. Dan. grum.]
Grumble, grum′bl, v.i. to murmur with discontent: to growl: to rumble.—n. the act of grumbling.—ns. Grum′bler; Grumbletō′nian, one of the country party as opposed to the court party, after 1689.—adv. Grum′blingly. [Old Dut. grommelen, freq. of grommen to mutter.]
Grume, grōōm, n. a thick consistence of fluid: a clot, as of blood.—adjs. Grum′ous, Grum′ose, thick: clotted. [O. Fr. grume, a bunch (Fr. grumeau, a clot)—L. grumus, a little heap.]
Grumph, grumf, n. (Scot.) a grunt.—v.i. to grunt.—n. Grumph′ie, a sow.
Grumpy, grum′pi, adj. surly: dissatisfied: melancholic.—adv. Grum′pily. [Grumble.]
Grundy, grund′i, Mrs, the invisible censor morum who is frequently appealed to in the phrase, 'But what will Mrs Grundy say?' in Thomas Morton's play, Speed the Plough (1800).
Grunt, grunt, v.i. to make a sound like a pig: to utter guttural sounds.—n. a short, guttural sound, as of a hog.—ns. Grunt′er; Grunt′ing.—adv. Grunt′ingly. [M. E. grunten—A.S. grunian; cf. Ger. grunzen, L. grunnīre; all imit.]
Grutch, gruch, v.t. or v.i. (Spens.) to grudge.
Gruyère, grōō-yār′, n. a famous whole-milk cheese, made at Gruyère and many other places in the canton of Freiburg, Switzerland.
Gryde, grīd, v.i. (Spens.) to gride.
Gryfon, Gryphon, grif′on, n. obsolete forms of griffin.—Also Grype.
Gryposis, gri-pō′sis, n. a curvature, esp. of the nails.
Grysie, grīz′i, adj. (Spens.) grisly: squalid: moist.
Guacharo, gwä′chä-rō, n. the oil-bird, a South American nocturnal frugivorous goatsucker. [Sp.]
Guacho, gwä′kō, n. a tropical American climbing composite: the medicinal substance in the leaves.
Guaiacum, gwā′ya-kum, n. a genus of trees in the West Indies, that yield a greenish resin used in medicine. [Sp. guayaco, from a Haytian word.]
Guan, gwän, n. the yacou, a South American genus of large arboreal game-birds, giving loud cries.
Guanaco, gwä-nä′ko, n. a cameloid ruminant widely spread in South America.
Guano, gwä′nō, n. the long-accumulated excrement of certain sea-fowl, found on certain coasts and islands, esp. about South America, much used for manure.—adj. Guanif′erous.—n. Guä′nin, a yellowish-white, amorphous substance, a constituent of guano, also of the liver and pancreas of mammals. [Sp. guano, or huano, from Peruv. huanu, dung.]
Guarana, gwä-rä′na, n. a paste prepared from the pounded seeds of Paullinia sorbilis, a climbing Brazilian shrub, made in round or oblong cakes—Guarana Bread.
Guarantee, gar-an-tē′, Guaranty, gar′an-ti, n. a warrant or surety: a contract to see performed what another has undertaken: the person who makes such a contract, one responsible for the performance of some action, the truth of some statement, &c.—v.t. to undertake that another shall perform certain engagements: to make sure:—pr.p. guarantee′ing; pa.p. guaranteed′.—n. Guar′antor, one who makes a guaranty.—Guarantee associations, joint-stock companies on the insurance principle, which become security for the integrity of cashiers, &c. [O. Fr. garantie, pa.p. of garantir, to warrant—garant, warrant. See Warrant.]
Guard, gärd, v.t. to ward, watch, or take care of: to protect from danger or attack: to protect the edge of, as by an ornamental border.—v.i. to watch: to be wary.—n. that which guards from danger: a man or body of men stationed to protect: one who has charge of a coach or railway-train: state of caution: posture of defence: part of the hilt of a sword: a watch-chain: (pl.) troops attached to the person of a sovereign: (cricket) the pads which protect the legs from swift balls.—adj. Guard′able.—n. Guard′age (Shak.), wardship.—adjs. Guard′ant (her.), having the face turned towards the beholder; Guard′ed, wary: cautious: uttered with caution.—adv. Guard′edly.—ns. Guard′edness; Guard′house, Guard′room, a house or room for the accommodation of a guard of soldiers, where defaulters are confined; Guard′ian, one who guards or takes care of: (law) one who has the care of an orphan minor.—adj. protecting.—n. Guard′ianship.—adj. Guard′less, without a guard: defenceless.—ns. Guard′ship, a ship of war that superintends marine affairs in a harbour and protects it: (Swift) guardianship; Guards′man, a soldier of the guards.—Guardian angel, an angel supposed to watch over a particular person: a person specially devoted to the interests of another.—Mount guard, to go on guard-duty; On, or Off, one's guard, on the watch, or the opposite; Run the guard, to get past a guard or sentinel without detection. [O. Fr. garder—Old High Ger. warten; A.S. weardian, Eng. ward.]
Guarish, gār′ish, v.t. (Spens.) to heal. [O. Fr. guarir (Fr. guérir), to heal.]
Guava, gwä′va, n. a genus of trees and shrubs of tropical America, with yellow, pear-shaped fruit made into jelly. [Sp. guayaba—Braz.]
Gubbins, gub′ins, n.pl. a half-savage race in Devonshire, described by the pastoral poet William Browne and by Fuller in his Worthies.
Gubernation, gū-bėr-nā′shun, n. government, rule.—adj. Gubernatō′rial. [L. gubernāre, govern.]
Guddle, gud′l v.t. (Scot.) to catch fish with the hands by groping under the stones or banks of a stream.
Gudgeon, guj′un, n. a genus of small, carp-like fishes common in the fresh waters of Europe—easily caught: a person easily cheated.—adj. foolish.—v.t. to impose on, cheat. [O. Fr. goujon—L. gobion-em—Gr. kōbios. See Goby.]
Gudgeon, guj′un, n. the bearing of a shaft, esp. when made of a separate piece: a metallic journal-piece let into the end of a wooden shaft: a pin. [O. Fr. goujon, the pin of a pulley.]
Gue, gū, n. a rude kind of violin used in Shetland.
Guebre, Gueber, gē′bėr, n. a follower of the ancient Persian religion as reformed by Zoroaster. [Pers. gabr; see Giaour; cf. Ar. kafir, unbeliever.]
Guelder-rose, gel′dėr-rōz, n. a species of Viburnum with large white ball-shaped flowers—also called Snowball-tree. [From Gueldres in Holland.]
Guelf, Guelph, gwelf, n. one of a papal and popular party in Italy in the Middle Ages which was opposed to the emperors.—adj. Guelf′ic, belonging to the Guelfs, in modern times the royal family of Hanover and England. [The party names Guelf and Ghibelline are from Welf and Waiblingen, two families which in the 12th century were at the head of two rival parties in the German Empire.]
Guerdon, gėr′dun, n. a reward or recompense.—v.t. to reward. [O. Fr. guerdon, guerredon (It. guidardone)—Low L. widerdonum, corr. from Old High Ger. widarlón (A.S. wiðerleán)—wider (A.S. wiðer), against, and lón (A.S. leán), reward; or more prob. the latter part of the word is from L. donum, a gift.]
Guereza, ger′e-za, n. a large, long-haired, black-and-white African monkey, with a bushy tail.
Guerilla, Guerrilla, gėr-ril′a, n. a mode of harassing an army by small bands adopted by the Spaniards against the French in the Peninsular war: a member of such a band.—adj. conducted by or conducting petty warfare. [Sp. guerrilla, dim. of guerra (Fr. guerre)—Old High Ger. werra.]
Guernsey, gėrn′zi, n. a sailor's closely-fitting knitted woollen shirt: one of a breed of dairy cattle from the island: the red-legged partridge. [From Guernsey in the Channel Islands.]
Guess, ges, v.t. to form an opinion on uncertain knowledge: to conjecture, to think.—v.i. to judge on uncertain knowledge: to conjecture rightly.—n. judgment or opinion without sufficient evidence or grounds.—adj. Guess′able, that may be guessed.—n. Guess′er, one who guesses or conjectures.—adv. Guess′ingly, by way of conjecture.—n. Guess′work, work done by guess: random action. [M. E. gessen; cog. with Dut. gissen; Dan. gisse, Ice. giska, for gitska—geta, to get, think, A.S. gitan, whence Eng. get. See Forget.]
Guest, gest, n. a visitor received and entertained.—n. Guest′-cham′ber (B.), a chamber or room for the accommodation of guests.—v.i. Guest′en (Scot.), to stay as a guest.—adv. Guest′wise, in the manner or capacity of a guest. [A.S. gest, gæst; allied to Dut. and Ger. gast, L. hostis, stranger, enemy.]
Gueux, gū, n.pl. the name assumed by the confederation (1565) of nobles and others to resist the introduction of the Inquisition into the Low Countries by Philip II. of Spain. [Fr., 'beggars.']
Guffaw, guf-faw′, v.i. to laugh loudly.—n. a loud laugh. [From the sound.]
Guggle, gug′l, v.i. to make a noise with the mouth or throat, to gurgle. [Formed from gurgle.]
Guicowar. Same as Gaikwar.
Guide, gīd, v.t. to lead or direct: to regulate: to influence.—n. he who, or that which, guides: one who directs another in his course of life: a soldier or other person employed to obtain information for an army: a guide-book: anything calculated to maintain in a certain direction or position.—adj. Guid′able.—ns. Guid′age, guidance; Guid′ance, direction: government; Guide′-book, a book of information for tourists.—adj. Guide′less, having no guide.—ns. Guide′post, a post erected at a roadside to guide the traveller; Guid′er, one who guides, a director; Guid′on, a forked guide-flag carried by a cavalry company or mounted battery, also the officer bearing it. [O. Fr. guider; prob. from a Teut. root, as in A.S. witan, to know, wís, wise, Ger. weisen, to show, conn. with wit, wise.]
Guild, Gild, gild, n. an association of men for mutual aid: a corporation: (orig.) an association in a town where payment was made for mutual support and protection.—ns. Guild′-broth′er, a fellow-member of a guild; Guild′hall, the hall of a guild, esp. in London; Guild′ry (Scot.), a guild, the members of such. [A.S. gild, money—gildan, to pay.]
Guilder, Gilder, gild′ėr, n. an old Dutch and German gold coin: now a silver coin=1s. 8d.: (Shak.) money generally. [Dut. gulden—Ger. gulden, gold.]
Guile, gīl, n. wile, jugglery: cunning: deceit.—v.t. (Spens.) to beguile.—p.adj. Guiled, armed with deceit: treacherous.—adj. Guile′ful, crafty: deceitful.—adv. Guile′fully.—n. Guile′fulness.—adj. Guile′less, without deceit: artless.—adv. Guile′lessly.—ns. Guile′lessness; Guil′er (Spens.), a deceiver. [O. Fr. guile, deceit; from a Teut. root, as in A.S. wíl, Ice. vel, a trick.]
Guillemot, gil′e-mot, n. a genus of diving birds of the Auk family, with long, straight, feathered bill and very short tail. [Fr., prob. Celt.; Bret. gwelan, gull, and O. Fr. moette, a sea-mew, from Teut.]
Guilloche, gil-losh′, n. an ornament formed of two or more bands intertwining in a continued series.—v.t. to decorate with intersecting curved lines. [Fr.; said to be from the name of its inventor, Guillot.]
Guillotine, gil′ō-tēn, n. an instrument for beheading—consisting of an upright frame down which a sharp heavy axe descends on the neck of the victim—adopted during the French Revolution, and named after Joseph Ignace Guillotin (1738-1814), a physician, who first proposed its adoption: a machine for cutting paper, straw, &c.: a surgical instrument for cutting the tonsils.—v.t. to behead with the guillotine.—n. Guill′otinement, death by the guillotine.
Guilt, gilt, n. punishable conduct: the state of having broken a law: crime: wickedness.—adv. Guilt′ily.—n. Guilt′iness.—adj. Guilt′less, free from crime: innocent.—adv. Guilt′lessly.—n. Guilt′lessness.—adj. Guilt′y, justly chargeable with a crime: wicked: pertaining to guilt.—adv. Guilt′y-like (Shak.), guiltily.—Guilty of (sometimes in B.), deserving. [Orig. a payment or fine for an offence; A.S. gylt, guilt—gildan, to pay, to atone.]
Guilt, gilt, p.adj. (Spens.) gilded.
Guinea, gin′i, n. an English gold coin, no longer used=21s., so called because first made of gold brought from Guinea, in Africa.—ns. Guin′ea-corn, a cereal extensively cultivated in Central Africa and India—also Indian millet; Guin′ea-fowl, a genus of African birds in the pheasant family, having dark-gray plumage with round spots of white, generally larger on the back and under surface; Guin′ea-grass, a grass of the same genus with millet, a native of Guinea and Senegal; Guin′ea-hen (Shak.), a courtesan; Guin′ea-pepp′er (see Pepper); Guin′ea-pig, a small South American rodent, somewhat resembling a small pig, the cavy: (slang) a professional company director, without time or real qualifications for the duties; Guin′ea-worm, a very slender thread-like nematode worm common in tropical Africa.
Guipure, gē-pōōr′, n. a kind of lace having no ground or mesh, the pattern fixed by interlacing threads: a species of gimp. [Fr. guipure—O. Fr. guiper, prob. Teut.; cf. Goth. veipan, to weave.]
Guise, gīz, n. manner, behaviour: external appearance: dress.—v.t. (arch.) to dress.—v.i. to act as a guiser.—ns. Guis′er (Scot.), Guis′ard, a person in disguise: a Christmas mummer. [O. Fr. guise; from Old High Ger. wísa (Ger. weise), a way, guise, which is cog. with A.S. wíse, way, wís, wise.]
Guitar, gi-tär′, n. a six-stringed musical instrument, somewhat like the lute, well adapted for accompanying the voice. [Fr. guitare—L. cithara—Gr. kithara, a lyre or lute. See Cithern.]
Gula, gū′la, n. a piece in some insects, esp. in the beetles, &c., forming the lower surface of the head, behind the mentum, bounded laterally by the genæ or cheeks: the upper part of a bird's throat, between mentum and jugulum.—adj. Gū′lar. [L., 'throat.']
Gulch, gulch, n. (U.S.) a ravine or narrow rocky valley, a gully.—v.t. (prov.) to swallow greedily. [Prob. the n. and v. are connected.]
Gulden, gōōl′den, n. a certain gold or silver coin in Germany in the Middle Ages: the unit of account in Austria, having the value of about 2s. [Ger.]
Gules, gūlz, n. (her.) a red colour, marked in engraved figures by perpendicular lines.—adj. Gū′ly. [O. Fr. gueules; acc. to Brachet, from Pers. ghul, a rose; acc. to others, from L. gula, the throat.]
Gulf, gulf, n. a hollow or indentation in the sea-coast: a deep place in the earth: an abyss: a whirlpool: anything insatiable: in Oxford and Cambridge examinations, the place of those next to the pass, but not bad enough to fail.—v.t. to engulf.—n. Gulf′-weed, a large olive-brown sea-weed with stalked air-bladders.—adj. Gulf′y, full of gulfs or whirlpools.—Gulf Stream, a great current of warm water flowing out of the Gulf of Mexico through the Strait of Florida, along the eastern coast of the United States of America, then deflected near the banks of Newfoundland diagonally across the Atlantic. [O. Fr. golfe—Late Gr. kolphos—Gr. kolpos, the bosom.]
Gull, gul, n. a web-footed sea-fowl belonging to the family Laridæ. [Celt.; Corn. gullan, W. gwylan, Bret. gwelan—gwela, to weep, to cry.]
Gull, gul, v.t. to beguile: to deceive.—n. a trick: one easily cheated: (Shak.) a nestling.—ns. Gull′-catch′er (Shak.), a cheat; Gull′er; Gull′ery, imposture; Gullibil′ity.—adj. Gull′ible, easily deceived.—n. Gullos′ity. [Same word as gull, a seafowl, the bird being thought stupid.]
Gullet, gul′et, n. the throat: the passage in the neck by which food is taken into the stomach.—n. Gulos′ity, gluttony. [O. Fr. goulet, dim. of O. Fr. goule (Fr. gueule)—L. gula, the throat.]
Gully, gul′i, n. (Scot.) a big knife.—Also Gull′ey.
Gully, gul′i, n. a channel worn by running water: a ditch: a ravine.—v.t. to wear a gully or channel in.—p.adj. Gull′ied.—ns. Gull′y-hole, a manhole into a drain, &c.; Gull′y-hunt′er, one who picks up things from gutters. [Prob. gullet.]
Gulp, gulp, v.t. to swallow eagerly or in large draughts.—n. a swallow: as much as is swallowed at once. [Dut. gulpen—gulp, a great draught.]
Gum, gum, n. the firm fleshy tissue which surrounds the teeth: (slang) insolence.—n. Gum′boil, a boil or small abscess on the gum. [A.S. góma, jaws; Ice. gómr, Ger. gaumen, palate.]
Gum, gum, n. a substance which exudes from certain trees and plants, and hardens on the surface, including those containing arabin, bassorin, and gum-resins.—v.t. to smear or unite with gum:—pr.p. gum′ming; pa.p. gummed.—ns. Gum′-ar′abic, a gum obtained from various species of acacia; Gum′-drag′on, tragacanth; Gum′-elas′tic, india-rubber or caoutchouc; Gum′-ju′niper, sandarac.—adj. Gummif′erous, producing gum.—ns. Gum′miness; Gum′ming, act of fastening with gum, esp. the application of gum-water to a lithographic stone: a disease, marked by a discharge of gum, affecting stone-fruit; Gummos′ity, gumminess.—adjs. Gum′mous, Gum′my, consisting of or resembling gum: producing or covered with gum.—ns. Gum′-rash, red-gum; Gum′-res′in, a vegetable secretion formed of resin mixed with more or less gum or mucilage; Gum′-tree, a name applied to various American and Australian trees; Chew′ing-gum (see Chew). [O. Fr. gomme—L. gummi—Gr. kommi; prob. Coptic komē, gum.]
Gumbo, gum′bō, n. the okra or its mucilaginous pods: a soup of which okra is an ingredient, also a dish of okra-pods seasoned: Creole patois in Louisiana.
Gumption, gump′shun, n. sense: shrewdness: common-sense.—adj. Gump′tious. [Doubtless conn. with A.S. gýman, to observe; cf. Goth. gaumjan.]
Gun, gun, n. a firearm or weapon, from which balls or other projectiles are discharged, usually by means of gunpowder—now generally applied to cannon: one who carries a gun, a member of a shooting-party.—v.i. (Amer.) to shoot with a gun.—ns. Gun′-barr′el, the barrel or tube of a gun; Gun′boat, a boat or small vessel of light draught, fitted to carry one or more guns; Gun′-carr′iage, a carriage on which a gun or cannon is supported; Gun′-cott′on, an explosive prepared by saturating cotton with nitric acid; Gun′-fire (mil.), the hour at which the morning or evening gun is fired; Gun′-flint, a piece of flint fitted to the hammer of a flint-lock musket; Gun′-met′al, an alloy of copper and tin in the proportion of 9 to 1, used in making guns; Gun′nage, the number of guns carried by a ship of war; Gun′ner, one who works a gun or cannon: (naut.) a petty officer who has charge of the ordnance on board ship; Gun′nery, the art of managing guns, or the science of artillery; Gun′ning, shooting game; Gun′-port, a port-hole; Gun′powder, an explosive powder used for guns and firearms; Gun′-room, the apartment on board ship occupied by the gunner, or by the lieutenants as a mess-room; Gun′shot, the distance to which shot can be thrown from a gun.—adj. caused by the shot of a gun.—adj. Gun′-shy, frightened by guns (of a sporting dog).—ns. Gun′smith, a smith or workman who makes or repairs guns or small-arms; Gun′stick, a ramrod; Gun′stock, the stock or piece of wood on which the barrel of a gun is fixed; Gun′stone (Shak.), a stone, formerly used as shot for a gun; Gun′-tack′le (naut.), the tackle used on board ship by which the guns are run to and from the port-holes; Gun′-wad, a wad for a gun; Gat′ling-gun, a revolving battery-gun, invented by R. J. Gatling about 1861, usually having ten parallel barrels, capable of firing 1200 shots a minute; Machine′-gun (see Machine).—As sure as a gun, quite sure, certainly; Blow great guns, to blow tempestuously—of wind; Great gun, a cannon: (coll.) a person of great importance; Son of a gun, a rogue, rascal. [M. E. gonne, from W. gwn, a bowl, a gun, acc. to Skeat.]
Gunnel, gun′l, n. Same as Gunwale.
Gunny, gun′i, n. a strong coarse cloth manufactured in India from jute, and used as sacking. [Hind. gon, goní, sacking—Sans. goní, a sack.]
Gunter's scale. See Scale.
Gunwale, Gunnel, gun′el, n. the wale or upper edge of a ship's side next to the bulwarks, so called because the upper guns are pointed from it.
Gurge, gurj, n. (Milt.) a whirlpool. [L. gurges.]
Gurgle, gur′gl, v.i. to flow in an irregular noisy current: to make a bubbling sound. [Through an It. gorgogliare, from gorgo—L. gurges.]
Gurgoyle. Same as Gargoyle.
Gurly, gur′li, adj. (obs.) fierce, stormy.
Gurnard, gur′nard, n. a genus of fishes having the body rounded, tapering, and covered with small scales, an angular head, the eyes near the summit, and the teeth small and very numerous—(obs.) Gur′net. [From O. Fr. grongnard—grogner, to grunt—L. grunnīre, to grunt.]
Gurrah, gur′a, n. a coarse Indian muslin.
Gurry, gur′i, n. fish-offal.
Guru, gōō′rōō, n. a spiritual teacher, any venerable person.—Also Goo′roo. [Hind.—Sans.]
Gush, gush, v.i. to flow out with violence or copiously: to be effusive, or highly sentimental.—n. that which flows out: a violent issue of a fluid.—n. Gush′er, an oil-well not needing to be pumped.—adj. Gush′ing, rushing forth with violence, as a liquid: flowing copiously: effusive.—adv. Gush′ingly.—adj. Gush′y, effusively sentimental. [Scand.; Ice. gusa, gjósa; Dut. gudsen. See Geyser.]
Gusset, gus′et, n. the piece of cloth in a shirt which covers the armpit: an angular piece of cloth inserted in a garment to strengthen some part of it.—v.t. to make with a gusset: to insert a gusset into. [O. Fr. gousset—gousse—It. guscio, a pod, husk.]
Gust, gust, n. a sudden blast of wind: a violent burst of passion.—adjs. Gust′ful, Gust′y, stormy: irritable.—n. Gust′iness. [Ice. gustr, blast.]
Gust, gust, n. sense of pleasure of tasting: relish: gratification.—n. Gustā′tion, the act of tasting: the sense of taste.—adjs. Gust′ātive, Gus′tātory, of or pertaining to gustation.—n. Gust′o, taste: zest. [L. gustus, taste; cf. Gr. geuein, to make to taste.]
Gut, gut, n. the alimentary canal: intestines prepared for violin-strings, &c. (gut for angling, see Silkworm-gut): (pl.) the bowels.—v.t. to take out the bowels of: to plunder:—pr.p. gut′ting; pa.p. gut′ted.—n. Gut′-scrap′er, a fiddler.—v.t. and v.i. Gut′tle, to eat greedily. [A.S. gut, geótan, to pour; prov. Eng. gut, Ger. gosse, a drain.]
Gutta, gut′a, n. a drop: one of the small drop-like ornaments on the under side of the mutules and regulæ of the Doric entablature: a small round colour-spot:—pl. Gutt′æ.—adjs. Gutt′ate, -d, containing drops: spotted. [L.]
Gutta-percha, gut′a-pėrch′a, n. the solidified juice of various trees in the Malayan Islands. [Malay gatah, guttah, gum, percha, the tree producing it.]
Gutter, gut′ėr, n. a channel at the eaves of a roof for conveying away water: a channel for water: (print.) one of a number of pieces of wood or metal, grooved in the centre, used to separate the pages of type in a form: (pl.) mud, dirt (Scot.).—v.t. to cut or form into small hollows.—v.i. to become hollowed: to run down in drops, as a candle.—ns. Gutt′er-blood, a low-born person; Gutt′er-snipe, a neglected child, a street Arab.—adj. Guttif′erous, exuding gum or resin. [O. Fr. goutiere—goute—L. gutta, a drop.]
Guttural, gut′ur-al, adj. pertaining to the throat: formed in the throat: harsh or rasping in sound.—n. (gram.) a letter pronounced in the throat or the back part of the mouth (k, c hard, q, g, ng).—v.t. Gutt′uralise, Gutt′urise, to form (a sound) in the throat.—adv. Gutt′urally.—n. Gutt′uralness. [Fr.,—L. guttur, the throat.]
Guy, gī, n. (naut.) a rope to steady any suspended weight.—v.t. to keep in position by a guy. [Sp. guia, a guide.]
Guy, gī, n. an effigy of Guy Fawkes, dressed up grotesquely on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot (5th Nov.): an odd figure.
Guzzle, guz′l, v.i. to eat and drink with haste and greediness.—v.t. to swallow with exceeding relish.—n. Guzz′ler. [O. Fr. (des-) gouziller, to swallow down; gosier, the throat.]
Gwiniad, gwin′i-ad, n. a fresh-water fish of about 10 or 12 inches in length, found in some of the lakes of Wales and Cumberland—the Fresh-water Herring. [W.,—gwyn, white.]
Gygis, jī′jis, n. a genus of small terns, white, with black bill, long-pointed wings, and a slightly forked tail. [Gr. gygēs, a water-bird.]
Gymkhana, jim-kä′na, n. a place of public resort for athletic games, &c., also a meeting for such sports. [A factitious word, according to Yule-Burnell, prob. based on gend-khāna ('ball-house'), the usual Hind. name for an English racket-court.]
Gymnasium, jim-nā′zi-um, n. a school for gymnastics: a school for the higher branches of literature and science: (orig.) a public place or building where the Greek youths exercised themselves, with running and wrestling grounds, baths, and halls for conversation:—pl. Gymnā′sia.—adj. Gymnā′sial.—n. Gymnā′siast.—adj. Gymnā′sic.—n. Gym′nast, one who teaches or practises gymnastics.—adjs. Gymnas′tic, -al, pertaining to athletic exercises: athletic, vigorous.—adv. Gymnas′tically.—n.pl. used as sing. Gymnas′tics, athletic exercises, devised to strengthen the muscles and bones, esp. those of the upper half of the body: the art of performing athletic exercises.—adj. Gym′nic (Milt.). [L.,—Gr. gymnasion—gymnazein, gymnos, naked.]
Gymnocarpous, jim-no-kär′pus, adj. (bot.) having the fruit naked, or not invested with a receptacle. [Gr. gymnos, naked, karpos, fruit.]
Gymnocitta, jim-no-sit′a, n. a genus of crow-like American jays with naked nostrils. [Gr. gymnos, naked, kitta, kissa, a jay.]
Gymnocladus, jim-nok′lad-us, n. a genus of North American trees, the pods slightly aperient. [Gr. gymnos, naked, klados, a branch.]
Gymnogynous, jim-noj′i-nus, adj. (bot.) having a naked ovary. [Gr. gymnos, naked, gynē, female.]
Gymnorhinal, jim-nō-rī′nal, adj. having the nostrils bare or unfeathered, as certain jays and auks. [Gr. gymnos, naked, hris, hrin-os, the nose.]
Gymnosophist, jim-nos′of-ist, n. the name given by the Greeks to those ancient Hindu philosophers who wore little or no clothing, and lived solitarily in mystical contemplation.—n. Gymnos′ophy. [Gr. gymnos, naked, sophos, wise.]
Gymnosperm, jim′nō-spėrm, n. one of the lower or more primitive group of seed plants—also Gym′nogen.—adj. Gymnosper′mous (bot.), having the seeds unenclosed in a capsule.—n. Gym′nospore, a naked spore. [Gr. gymnos, naked, sperma, seed.]
Gymnotus, jim-nō′tus, n. the most powerful of the electric fishes, occurring in the fresh waters of Brazil and Guiana.—Also Electric eel. [Formed from Gr. gymnos, naked, nōtos, the back.]
Gynæceum, Gynecium, jin-ē-sē′um, n. an apartment in a large house exclusively appropriated to women. [Gr. gynē, a woman, oikos, a house.]
Gynandria, ji-nan′dri-a, n. a Linnæan class of plants, in which the stamens are united with the pistil.—n. Gynan′der, a plant of the gynandria: a masculine woman.—adjs. Gynan′drian, Gynan′drous. [Gr. gynē, a female, anēr, andros, a man.]
Gynarchy, jin′är-ki, n. government by a female. [Gr. gynē, a woman, archē, rule.]
Gynecian, Gynæcian, ji-nē′shi-an, adj. relating to women.—adjs. Gynē′cic, Gynæ′cic, pertaining to women's diseases.—n. Gynœ′cium, the collective pistils of a flower.
Gynecocracy, jin-ē-kok′ra-si, n. government by women—also Gynoc′racy.—adj. Gynecrat′ic. [Gr. gynē, a woman, kratein, to rule.]
Gynecology, Gynæcology, jin-ē-kol′-o-ji, n. that branch of medicine which treats of the diseases and affections peculiar to woman and her physical organism.—adj. Gynecolog′ical.—n. Gynecol′ogist. [Gr. gynē, a woman, legein, to speak.]
Gyneolatry, jīnē-ol′at-ri, n. excessive worship of woman. [Gr. gynē, a woman, latreia, worship.]
Gynophore, jin′o-fōr, n. (bot.) an elongation or internode of the receptacle of a flower.
Gyp, jip, n. a male servant who attends to college rooms at Cambridge. [Perh. a contr. from gypsy; hardly from Gr. gyps, a vulture.]
Gypsum, jip′sum, n. a valuable mineral of a comparatively soft kind, burned in kilns, and afterwards ground to a fine powder, called plaster of Paris.—adjs. Gyp′seous, of or resembling gypsum; Gypsif′erous, producing or containing gypsum. [L.,—Gr. gypsos, chalk.]
Gypsy, Gypsyism. See Gipsy.
Gyrate, jī′rāt, v.i. to whirl round a central point: to move round.—adj. (bot.) winding round.—n. Gyrā′tion, act of whirling round a central point: a spiral motion.—adjs. Gy′ratory, Gyrā′tional, moving in a circle. [L. gyrāre, -ātum, to move in a circle.]
Gyre, jīr, n. a circular motion.—n. Gy′ra, the richly embroidered border of a robe:—pl. Gy′ræ.—adjs. Gy′ral, whirling, rotating; Gyroid′al, spiral in arrangement or movement. [L. gyrus—Gr. gyros, a ring, round.]
Gyre-carlin, gīr-kar′lin, n. (Scot.) a witch. [Ice. gýgr, a witch, karlinna, a carline.]
Gyrfalcon. See Gerfalcon.
Gyromancy, jī′ro-man-si, n. divination by walking in a circle till dizziness caused a fall towards one direction or another. [Gr. gyros, a circle, manteia, divination.]
Gyron, Giron, jī′ron, n. (her.) a bearing consisting of two straight lines drawn from any given part of the field and meeting in an acute angle in the fesse-point.—adjs. Gyronnet′ty, Gyron′ny, Giron′ny. [Fr., acc. to Skeat, from the Old High Ger. gérun, accus. of géro, a spear, gér; cf. A.S. gár, a spear.]
Gyroscope, jī′ro-skōp, n. an instrument for the exhibition of various properties of rotation, and the composition of rotations.—adj. Gyroscop′ic. [Gr. gyros, a circle, skopein, to see.]
Gyrose, jī′rōs, adj. (bot.) turned round like a crook.
Gyrostat, jī′rō-stat, n. an instrument contrived for illustrating the dynamics of rotating rigid bodies.—adj. Gyrostat′ic. [Gr. gyros, round, statikos, static.]
Gyrus, jī′rus, n. one of the rounded edges into which the surface of the cerebral hemisphere is divided by the fissures or sulci. [Gr. gyros, a circle.]
Gyte, gīt, adj. (Scot.) crazy, mad.
Gyte, gīt, n. (Scot.) a child: a first year's boy at Edinburgh High School. [Prob. a corr. of get, offspring.]
Gytrash, gī′trash, n. (prov.) a ghost.
Gyve, jīv, v.t. to fetter.—n.pl. Gyves, shackles, fetters. [M. E. gives, gyves. Of Celt. origin; cf. W. gefyn, Ir. geimheal.]