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Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

E. Cobham Brewer From The Edition Of 1894

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G

This letter is the outline of a camel's head and neck. It is called in Hebrew gimel (a camel).

G.C.B.

(See Bath .)

G.H.V.L.

on the coin of William III. of the Netherlands is Groot Hertog Van Luxemburg (grand duke of Luxembourg).

G.O.M.

The initial letters of Grand Old Man; so Mr. Gladstone was called during his premiership

1881—1885. Lord Rosebery first used the expression 26th April, 1882, and the Right Hon. Sir William Harcourt repeated it, 18th October, the same year; since then it has become quite a synonym for the proper name.

Gab

(g hard). The gift of the gab. Fluency of speech; or, rather, the gift of boasting. (French, gaber, to gasconade; Danish and Scotch, gab, the mouth; Gaelic gob; Irish, cab; whence our gap and gape, gabble and gobble. The gable of a house is its beak.)

“There was a good man named Job

Who lived in the laud of Uz

He had a good gift of the gob,

The same thing happened us.”

Book of Job, by Zach. Boyd.

“Thou art one of the knights of France, who hold it for glee and pastime to gab, as they term it, of exploits that are beyond human power.” — Sir W. Scott: The Talisman, chap.ii.

Gabardine'

(3 syl.). A Jewish coarse cloak. (Spanish, gavardina, a long coarse cloak.)

“You call me misbeliever, cut—throat dog,

And spit upon my Jewish gabardine.”

Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, i. 3.

Gabel', Gabelle

(g hard). A salt—tax. A word applied in French history to the monopoly of salt. All the salt made in France had to be brought to the royal warehouses, and was there sold at a price fixed by the Government. The iniquity was that some provinces had to pay twice as much as others. Edward III. jokingly called this monopoly “King Philippe's Salic law.” It was abolished in 1789. (German, gabe, a tax.)

Gaberlunzie

or A gaberlunzie man (g hard). A mendicant; or; more strictly speaking, one of the king's bedesmen, who were licensed beggars. The word gaban is French for “a cloak with tight sleeves and a hood.” Lunzie is a diminutivo of laine (wool); so that gaberlunzie means “coarse woollen gown.” These bedesmen were also called blue—gowns (q.v.), from the colour of their cloaks. (See above, Gabardine.)

Gabriel

(g hard), in Jewish mythology, is the angel of death to the favoured people of God, the prince of fire and thunder, and the only angel that can speak Syriac and Chaldee. The Mahometans call him the chief of the four favoured angels, and the spirit of truth. In mediæval romance he is the second of the seven spirits that stand before the throne of God, and, as God's messenger, carries to heaven the prayers of men. (Jerusalem Delivered, book i.) The word means “power of God.” Milton makes him chief of the angelic guards placed over Paradise.

“Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,

Chief of the angelic guards.”

Paradise Lost, iv. 549—550.

Longfellow, in his Golden Legend, makes him the angel of the moon, and says he brings to man the gift of hope.

“I am the angel of the moon ...

Nearest the earth, it is my ray

That best illumines the midnight way.

I bring the gift of hope.“

The Miracle Play, iii.

It was Gabriel who (we are told in the Koran) took Mahomet to heaven on Al—borak (q.v.), and revealed to him his “prophetic lore.” In the Old Testament Gabriel is said to have explained to Daniel certain visions; and in the New Testament it was Gabriel who announced to Zacharias the future birth of John the Baptist, and that afterwards appeared to Mary, the mother of Jesus. (Luke i. 26, etc.)

Gabriel's horse. Haïzum.

Gabriel's hounds, called also Gabble Ratchet. Wild geese. The noise of the bean—goose (anser segtum) in flight is like that of a pack of hounds in full cry. The legend is that they are the souls of unbaptised children wandering through the air till the Day of Judgment.

Gabrielle

(3 syl.; g hard). La Belle Gabrielle. Daughter of Antoine d'Estrées, grand—master of artillery, and governor of the Ile de France. Henri IV., towards the close of 1590, happened to sojourn for a night at the Chateau de Cœuvres, and fell in love with Gabrielle, then nineteen years of age. To throw a flimsy veil over his intrigue, he married her to Damerval de Liancourt, created her Duchess de Beaufort, and took her to live with him at court.

“Charmante Gabrielle,

Percé de mille dards,

Quand la gloire máppelle

A la suite de Mars.” Henri IV.

Gabrina

in Orlando Furioso, is a sort of Potiphar's wife. (See under Argeo.) When Philander had unwittingly killed her husband,Gabrina threatened to deliver him up to the law unless he married her; an alternative that Philander accepted, but ere long she tired of and poisoned him. The whole affair being brought to light, Gabrina was shut up in prison, but, effecting her escape, wandered about the country as an old hag. Knight after knight had to defend her; but at last she was committed to the charge of Odorico, who, to get rid of her, hung her on an old elm. (See Odorico.)

Gabrioletta

(g hard). Governess of Brittany, rescued by Amadis of Gaul from the hands of Balan, “the bravest and strongest of all the giants.” (Amadis of Gaul, bk. iv. ch. 129.)

Gad

(g hard). Gadding from place to place. Wandering from pillar to post without any profitable purpose.

“Give water no passage, neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.” — Ecclesiasticus xxv.

25.

Gad—about

(A). A person who spends day after day in frivolous visits, gadding from house to house.

Gad—fly

is not the roving but the goading fly. (Anglo—Saxon, gad, a goad.)

Gad—steel

Flemish steel. So called because it is wrought in gads, or small bars. (Anglo—Saxon, gad, a small bar or goad; Icelandic, gaddr, a spike or goad.)

“I will go get a leaf of brass,

And with a gad of steel will write these words.” Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus, iv. 1.

Gadshill

in Kent, near Rochester. Famous for the attack of Sir John Falstaff and three of his knavish companions on a party of four travellers, whom they robbed of their purses. While the robbers were dividing the spoil, Poins and the Prince of Wales set upon them, and “outfaced them from their prize;” and as for the “Hercules of flesh,” he ran and “roared for mercy, and still ran and roared,” says the prince, “as ever I heard a

bull—calf.” Gadshill is also the name of one of the thievish companions of Sir John. (Shakespeare: 1 Henry

IV., ii. 4.)

Charles Dickens lived at Gadshill.

Gaels

A contraction of Gaid—heals (hidden rovers). The inhabitants of Scotland who maintained their ground in the Highlands against the Celts.

Gaff

(g hard). Crooked as a gaff. A gaff is an iron hook at the end of a short pole, used for landing salmon, etc. The metal spurs of fighting—cocks. In nautical language, a spar to which the head of a fore—and—aft sail is bent. (Dana: Seaman's Manual, p. 97.) (Irish, gaf; Spanish and Portuguese, gafa.)

Gaffer

(g hard). A title of address, as “Gaffer Grey,” “Good—day, Gaffer.” About equal to “mate.” (Anglo—Saxon, gefera, a comrade.) Many think the word is “grandfather.” (See Gammer.)

“If I had but a thousand a year, Gaffer Green,

If I had but a thousand a year.”

Gaffer Green and Robin Rough.

Gags

in theatrical parlance, are interpolations. When Hamlet directs the players to say no more “than is set down,” he cautions them against indulgence in gags. (Hamlet, iii. 2.) (Dutch, gaggelen, to cackle. Compare Anglo—Saxon, geagl, the jaw.)

Gala Day

(g hard). A festive day; a day when people put on their best attire. (Spanish, gala, court dress; Italian, gala, finery; French, gala, pomp.)

Galactic Circle

(The) is to sidereal astronomy what the ecliptic is to planetary astronomy. The Galaxy being the sidereal equator, the Galactic circle is inclined to it at an angle of 63 degrees.

Galahad

or Sir Galaad (g hard). Son of Sir Launcelot and Elaine, one of the Knights of the Round Table, so pure in life that he was successful in his search for the Sangrail. Tennyson has a poem on the subject, called The Holy Grail.

“There Galaad sat, with manly grace,

Yet maiden meekness in his face.”

Sir W. Scott: Bridal of Triermain, ii. 13.

Galaor

(Don). Brother of Amadis of Gaul, a gay libertine, whose adventures form a strong contrast to those of the more serious hero.

Galate'a

A sea—nymph, beloved by Polypheme, but herself in love with Acis. Acis was crushed under a huge rock by the jealous giant, and Galatea threw herself into the sea, where she joined her sister nymphs. Carlo Maratti (1625—1713) depicted Galatea in the sea and Polypheme sitting on a rock. Handel has an opera entitled Acis and Galatea.

Galathe

(3 syl.). Hector's horse.

“There is a thousand Hectors in the field;

Now here he fights on Galathe his horse,

And there lacks work.”

Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida, v. 5.

Galaxy

(The). The “Milky Way.” A long white luminous track of stars which seems to encompass the heavens like a girdle. According to classic fable, it is the path to the palace of Zeus (1 syl.) or Jupiter. (Greek, gala, milk, genitive, galaktos.)

A galaxy of beauty. A cluster, assembly, or coterie of handsome women.

Gale's Compound

Powdered glass mixed with gunpowder to render it non—explosive. Dr. Gale is the patentee.

Galen

(g hard). Galen says “Nay,” and Hippocrates “Yea.” The doctors disagree, and who is to decide? Galen was a physician of Asia Minor in the second Christian century. Hippocrates — a native of Cos, born B.C. 460 — was the most celebrated physician of antiquity.

Galen. A generic name for an apothecary. Galenists prefer drugs (called Galenical medicines), Paracelsians use mineral medicines.

Galeotti

(Martius). Louis XI.'s Italian astrologer. Being asked by the king if he knew the day of his own death, he craftily replied that he could not name the exact day, but he knew this much: it would be

twenty—four hours before the decease of his majesty. Thrasullus, the soothsayer of Tiberius, Emperor of Rome, made verbally the same answer to the same question.

“ `Can thy pretended skill ascertain the hour of thine own death?'“

“ `Only by referring to the fate of another,' said Galeotti.

“ `I understand not thine answer,' said Louis.

“ `Know then, O king,' said Martius, `that this only I can tell with certainty concerning mine own death, that it shall take place exactly twenty—four hours before your majesty's.' “ Sir W. Scott: Quentin Durward, chap. xxix.

Galerana

(g hard), according to Ariosto, was wife of Charlemagne. (Orlando Furioso, bk. xxi.) (See Charlemagne.)

Galere

(2 syl.). Que diable allait—il faire dans cette galère? (What business had he to be on that galley?) This is from Molière's comedy of Les Fourberies de Scapin. Scapin wants to bamboozle Géonte out of his money, and tells him that his master (Géonte's son) is detained prisoner on a Turkish galley, where he went out of curiosity. He adds, that unless the old man will ransom him, he will be taken to Algiers as a slave. Géonte replies to all that Scapin urges, “What business had he to go on board the galley?” The retort is given to those who beg money to help them out of difficulties which they have brought on themselves. “I grant you are in trouble, but what right had you to go on the galley?” Vogue la Galère. (See Vogue.)

Galesus

(g hard). A river of Puglia, not far from Tarentum. The sheep that fed on the meadows of Galesus were noted for their fine wool. (Horace: 2 Carminum Liber, vi. 10.)

Galiana

(g hard). A Moorish princess. Her father, King Gadalfe of Toledo, built for her a palace on the Tagus so splendid that the phrase “a palace of Galiana” became proverbial in Spain.

Galimaufrey

or Gallimaufrey (g hard). A medley; any confused jumble of things; but strictly speaking, a hotch—potch made up of all the scraps of the larder. (French, galimafrée; Spanish, gallofa, “broken meat,” gallofero, a beggar.)

“He woos both high and low, both rich and poor,

Both young and old, one with another, Ford;

He loves thy gaily—mawfry [all sorts].”

Shakespeare: Merry Wives, ii.1.

Gall and Wormwood

Extremely disagreeable and annoying.

“It was so much gall and wormwood to the family.” — Mrs.E. Lynn Linton.

Gall of Bitterness

(The). The bitterest grief; extreme affliction. The ancients taught that grief and joy were subject to the gall, affection to the heart, knowledge to the kidneys, anger to the bile (one of the four humours of the body), and courage or timidity to the liver. The gall of bitterness, like the heart of hearts, means the bitter centre of bitterness, as the heart of hearts means the innermost recesses of the heart or affections. In the Acts it is used to signify “the sinfulness of sin,” which leads to the bitterest grief.

“I perceive thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” — Acts viii. 23.

Gall of Pigeons

The story goes that pigeons have no gall, because the dove sent from the ark by Noah burst its gall out of grief, and none of the pigeon family have had a gall ever since.

“For sin' the Flood of Noah

The dow she had nae ga'.”

Jamieson: Popular Ballads (Lord of Rorlin's Daughter).

Gall's Bell

(St.). A four—sided bell, which was certainly in existence in the seventh century, and is still shown in the monastery of St. Gall, Switzerland.

Gallant

(g hard). Brave, polite, courteous, etc. (French, galant.)

Gallery To play with one eye on the gallery. To work for popularity. As an actor who sacrifices his author for popular applause, or a stump political orator “orates” to catch votes.

“The instant we begin to think about success and the effect of our work — to play with one eye on the gallery — we lose power, and touch, and everything else.” — Rudyard Kipling: The Light that Failed.

Galley

(g hard). A printer's frame into which type from the stick (q.v.) is emptied. In the galley the type appears only in columns; it is subsequently divided into pages, and transferred to the “chase” (q.v.). (French, galée.)

Galley Pence

Genoese coin brought over by merchants (“galleymen"), who used the Galley Wharf, Thames Street. These pence, or rather halfpence, were larger than our own.

Gallia

(g hard). France.

“Impending hangs o'er Gallia's humbled coast.”

Thomson: Summer.

Gallia Braccata

[trousered Gaul ]. Gallia Narbonensis was so called from the “braccæ"' or trousers which the natives wore in common with the Scythians and Persians.

Gallia Comata

That part of Gaul which belonged to the Roman emperor, and was governed by legates (legati), was so called from the long hair (coma) worn by the inhabitants flowing over their shoulders.

Gallicenæ

The nine virgin priestesses of the Gallic oracle. By their charms they could raise the wind and waves, turn themselves into any animal form they liked, cure wounds and diseases, and predict future events. (Gallic mythology.)

Gallicism

(g hard). A phrase or sentence constructed after the French idiom; as, “when you shall have returned home you will find a letter on your table.” Government documents are especially guilty of this fault. In St. Matt. xv. 32 is a Gallicism: “I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.” (Compare St. Mark viii. 2.)

Gallicum Merleburgæ

French of “Stratford atte Bowe.”

“There is a spring which (so they say), if anyone tastes, he murders his French [Gallice barbarizat]; so that when anyone speaks that language ill, we say he speaks the French of Marlborough [Gallicum Merleburgæ].” — Walter Map.

Galligantus

A giant who lived with Hocus—Pocus in an enchanted castle. By his magic he changed men and women into dumb animals, amongst which was a duke's daughter, changed into a roe. Jack the Giant Killer, arrayed in his cap, which rendered him invisible, went to the castle and read the inscription: “Whoever can this trumpet blow, will cause the giant's overthrow.” He seized the trumpet, blew a loud blast, the castle fell down, Jack slew the giant, and was married soon after to the duke's daughter, whom he had rescued from the giant's castle. (Jack the Giant Killer.)

Gallimaufry

(See Galimaufrey.)

Gallipot

(g hard) means a glazed pot, as galletyles (3 syl.) means glazed tiles. (Dutch, gleipot, glazed pot.) In farce and jest it forms a by—name for an apothecary.

Gallo—Belgicus. An annual register in Latin for European circulation, first published in 1598.

“It is believed,

And told for news with as much diligence

As if 'twere writ in Gallo—Belgicus.”

Thomas May: The Heir. (1615.)

Galloon

(See Caddice.)

Galloway

(g hard). A horse less than fifteen hands high, of the breed which originally came from Galloway in Scotland.

“Thrust him downstairs! Know we not Galloway nags?” — Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV., ii. 4.

“The knights and esquires are well mounted on large bay horses, the common people on little Galloways.” — S. Lanier: Boy's Froissart, book i. chap. xiv. p. 25.

Gallowglass

An armed servitor (or foot—soldier) of an ancient Irish chief.

Gallus Numidicus

(A). A turkey cock. Our common turkey comes neither from Turkey nor Numidia, but from North America.

“And bedecked in borrowed plumage, he struts over his pages as solemnly as any old Gallus Numidicus over the farmyard.” — Fra. Ollie (1885).

Galore

(2 syl., hard). A sailor's term, meaning “in abundance.” (Irish, go leor, in abundance.) For his Poll he had trinkets and gold galore,

Besides of prize—money quite a store.”

Jack Robinson.

Galvanism

(g hard). So called from Louis Galvani, of Bologna. Signora Galvani in 1790 had frog—soup prescribed for her diet, and one day some skinned frogs which happened to be placed near an electric machine in motion exhibited signs of vitality. This strange phenomenon excited the curiosity of the experimenter, who subsequently noticed that similar convulsive effects were produced when the copper hooks on which the frogs were strung were suspended on the iron hook of the larder. Experiments being carefully conducted, soon led to the discovery of this important science.

Galway Jury

An enlightened, independent jury. The expression has its birth in certain trials held in Ireland in 1635 upon the right of the king to the counties of Ireland. Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo and Mayo, gave judgment in favour of the Crown, but Galway opposed it; whereupon the sheriff was fined £1,000, and each of the jurors £4,000.

Gam

(See Ganelon.)

Gama

(g hard). Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese, was the first European navigator who doubled the Cape of Good Hope.

“With such mad seas the daring Gama fought ...

Incessant labouring round the stormy Cape.” Thomson: Summer.

Vasco da Gama. The hero of Camoëns' Lusiad. He is represented as sagacious, intrepid, tender—hearted, pious, fond of his country, and holding his temper in full command. He is also the hero of Meyerbeer's posthumous opera, L' Africaine.

“Gama, captain of the venturous band,

Of bold emprise, and born for high command, Whose martial fires, with prudence close allied, Ensured the smiles of fortune on his side.” Camoëns: Lusiad, bk. i.

Gamaheu

a natural cameo, or intaglio. These stones (chiefly agate) contain natural representations of plants, landscapes, or animals. Pliny tells us that the “Agate of Pyrrhus” contained a representation of the nine Muses, with Apollo in the midst. Paracelsus calls them natural talismans. Albertus Magnus makes mention of them, and Gaffaret, in his Curiosités inouïes, attributes to them magical powers. (French, camaïeu, from the oriental gamahuia, camehuia, or camebouia.)

When magic was ranked as a science, certain conjunctions were called “Gamahæan unions.”

Gamaliel.

In the Talmud is rather a good story about this pundit. Caesar asked Gamaliel how it was that God robbe'd Adam in order to make Eve. Gamaliel's daughter instantly replied, the robbery was substituting a golden vessel for an earthen one.

Gamboge

(2 syl., first ghard, second g soft). So called from Cambodia or Camboja, whence it was first brought.

Game

includes hares, pheasants, partridges, grouse, heath—game, or moor—game, black—game, and bustards. (Game Act, 1, 2, Will. IV.) (See Sporting Season.)

Game

Two can play at that game. If you claw me I can claw you; if you throw stones at me I can do the same to you. The Duke of Buckingham led a mob to break the windows of the Scotch Puritans who came over with James I., but the Puritans broke the windows of the duke's house, and when he complained to the king, the British Solomon quoted to him the proverb, “Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.”

You are making game of me. You are chaffing me. (Anglo—Saxon, gamen, jest, scoffing.)

Game—leg

A bad or lame leg. (Welsh, cam; Irish, gam, bad, crooked.)

Game for a Spree

Are you game for a spree? Are you inclined to join in a bit of fun? The allusion is to

game—cocks, which never show the white feather, but are always ready for a fight.

Game is not worth the Candle

(The). The effort is not worth making; the result will not pay for the trouble. (See Candle.)

Game's Afoot

(The). The hare has started; the enterprise has begun.

“I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,

Straining upon the start. The game's afoot! Follow your spirit! And upon this charge

Cry `God for Harry! England! and St. George.' “ Shakespeare: Henry V., iii. 1.

Gamelyn

(3 syl., g hard). The youngest of the three sons of Sir Johan de Boundys. On his death—bed the old knight left “five plowes of land” to each of his two elder sons, and the rest of his property to Gamelyn. The eldest took charge of the boy, but entreated him shamefully; and when Gamelyn, in his manhood, demanded of him his heritage, the elder brother exclaimed, “Stand still, gadelyng, and hold thy peace!” “I am no gadelyng,” retorted the proud young spirit; “but the lawful son of a lady and true knight.” At this the elder brother sent his servants to chastise the youngling, but Gamelyn drove them off with “a pestel.” At a wrestling—match held in the neighbourhood, young Gamelyn threw the champion, and carried off the prize

ram; but on reaching home found the door shut against him. He at once kicked down the door, and threw the porter into a well. The elder brother, by a manœuvre, contrived to bind the young scapegrace to a tree, and left him two days without food; but Adam, the spencer, unloosed him, and Gamelyn fell upon a party of ecclesiastics who had come to dine with his brother, “sprinkling holy water on the guests with his stout oaken cudgel.” The sheriff now sent to take Gamelyn and Adam into custody; but they fled into the woods and came upon a party of foresters sitting at meat. The captain gave them welcome, and in time Gamelyn rose to be

“king of the outlaws.” His brother, being now sheriff, would have put him to death, but Gamelyn constituted himself a lynch judge, and hanged his brother. After this the king appointed him chief ranger, and he married. This tale is the foundation of Lodge's novel, called Euphue's Golden Legacy, and the novel furnished Shakespeare with the plot of As You Like It.

Gammer

(g hard). A corruption of grandmother, with an intermediate form “granmer.” (See Halliwell, sub voce.)

Gammer Gurton's Needle

The earliest comedy but one in the English language. It was “Made by Mr. S., Master of Arts.” The author is said to have been Bishop Still of Bath and Wells (1543—1607).

Gammon

(g hard). A corruption of gamene. Stuff to impose upon one's credulity; chaff. (Anglo—Saxon, gamen, scoffing; our game, as “You are making game of me.”)

Gammon (g hard) means the leg, not the buttock. (French, jambon, the leg, jambe; Italian, gamba.)

Gammut

or Gamut g (hard). It is gamma ut, “ut" being the first word in the Guido—von—Arrezzo scale of ut, re mi, fa, sol, la. In the eleventh century the ancient scale was extended a note below the Greek proslambanomy note (our A), the first space of the bass staff. The new note was termed g (gamma), and when “ut” was substituted by Arrezzo the “supernumerary” note was called gamma or ut, or shortly gamm' ut — i.e. “G ut.” The gammut, therefore, properly means the diatonic scale beginning in the bass clef with “G.”

Gamp

(Mrs.), or Sarah Gamp (g hard). A monthly nurse, famous for her bulky umbrella and perpetual reference to Mrs. Harris, a purely imaginary person, whose opinions always confirmed her own. (Dickens: Martin Chuzzlewit.)

“Mrs. Harris, I says to her, if I could afford to lay out all my fellow creeturs for nothink, I would gladly do it. Such is the love I bear `em.”

Punch caricatures the Standard as “Mrs. Sarah Gamp,” a little woman with an enormous bonnet and her characteristic umbrella.

A Sarah Gamp, or Mrs. Gamp. A big, pawky umbrella, so called from Sarah Gamp. (See above.) In France it is called un Robinson, from Robinson Crusoe's umbrella. (Defoe.)

Gamps and Harrises

Workhouse nurses, real or supposititious. (See Gamp.)

“Mr. Gathorne Hardy is to look after the Gamps and Harrises of Lambeth and the Strand.” — The Daily Telegraph.

Ganabim

The island of thieves and plagiarists. So called from the Hebrew ganab (a thief). (Rabelais: Pantagruel, iv. 66.)

Gander

(g hard). What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Both must be treated exactly alike. Applesauce is just as good for one as the other. (Anglo—Saxon gós, related to gons and gans. The d and r of gan—a are merely euphonic; the a being the masculine suffix. Thus han—a was the masculine of hen. Latin, anser.)

Gander—cleugh Folly cliff; that mysterious land where anyone who makes a “goose of himself” takes up his temporary residence. The hypothetical Jedediah Cleishbotham, who edited the Tales of My Landlord, lived there, as Sir Walter Scott assures us.

Gander—month

Those four weeks when the “monthly nurse” rules the house with despotic sway, and the master is made a goose of.

Ganelon

(g hard). Count of Mayence, one of Charlemagne's paladins, the “Judas” of knights. His castle was built on the Blocksberg, the loftiest peak of the Hartz mountains. Jelousy of Roland made him a traitor; and in order to destroy his rival, he planned with Marsillus, the Moorish king, the attack of Roncesvallës. He was six and a—half feet high, with glaring eyes and fiery hair; he loved solitude, was very taciturn, disbelieved in the existence of moral good, and never had a friend. His name is a by—word for a traitor of the basest sort.

“Have you not held me at such a distance from your counsels, as if I were the most faithless spy since the days of Ganelon?” — Sir Walter Scott: The Abbot, chap. xxiv.

“You would have thought him [Ganelon] one of Attila's Huns, rather than one of the paladins of Charlemagne's court.” — Croquemitaine, iii.

Ganem

(g hard), having incurred the displeasure of Caliph Haroun—al—Raschid, effected his escape by taking the place of a slave, who was carrying on his head dishes from his own table. (Arabian Nights' Entertainments.)

Ganesa

(g hard). Son of Siva and Parbutta; also called Gunputty, the elephant god. The god of wisdom, fore—thought, and prudence. The Mercury of the Hindus.

“Camdeo bright and Ganesa sublime

Shall bless with joy their own propitious clime.” Campbell: Pleasures of Hope, i.

Gang a—gley

(To). To go wrong (Scotch.)

“The best—laid schemes of mice and men

Gang aft agley.” Burns.

Gang—board

or Gang—way (g hard). The board or way made for the rowers to pass from stem to stern, and where the mast was laid when it was unshipped. Now it means the board with cleats or bars of wood by which passengers walk into or out of a ship or steamboat. A gang is an alley or avenue.

“As we were putting off the boat they laid hold of the gangboard and unhooked it off the boat's stern.” — Cook: Second Voyage, bk. iii. chap. iv.

Gang—day

(g hard). The day in Rogation week when boys with the clergy and wardens used to gang round the parish to beat its bounds.

Gangway

(g hard). Below the gangway. In the House of Commons there is a sort of bar extending across the House, which separates the Ministry and the Opposition from the rest of the members. To sit “below the gangway” is to sit amongst the general members, neither among the Ministers nor with the Opposition.

Clear the gangway. Make room for the passengers from the boat, clear the passage. (See Gang—Board.)

Ganges (The) is so named from gang, the earth. Often called Gunga or Ganga.

“Those who, through the curse, have fallen from heaven, having performed ablution in this stream, become free from sin; cleansed from sin by this water, and restored to happiness, they shall enter heaven and return again to the gods. After having performed ablution in this living water, they become free from all iniquity.” — The Ramayuna (section xxxv.).

Ganna

A Celtic prophetess, who succeeded Velleda. She went to Rome, and was received by Domitian with great honours. (Tacitus: Annals, 55.)

Ganor

(g hard), Gineura (g soft), or Guinever. Arthur's wife.

Ganymede

(3 syl.; g hard). Jove's cup—bearer; the most beautiful boy ever born. He succeeded Hebe in office.

“When Ganymede above

His service ministers to mighty Jove.”

Hoole's Ariosto.

Gaora

A tract of land inhabited by a people without heads. Their eyes are in their shoulders, and their mouth in their breast. (Hakluyt's Voyages.) (See Blemmyes.)

Gape

(g hard). Looking for gapeseed. Gaping about and doing nothing, A corruption of “Looking a—gapesing;” gapesing is staring about with one's mouth open. A—gapesing and a—trapesing are still used in Norfolk.

Seeking a gape's nest. (Devonshire.) A gape's nest is a sight which people stare at with wide—open mouth. The word “nest” was used in a much wider sense formerly than it is now. Thus we read of a “nest of shelves,” a “nest of thieves,” a “cosy nest.” A gape's nest is the nest or place where anything stared at is to be found.

(See Mare's Nest.)

Garagantua

(g hard). The giant that swallowed five pilgrims with their staves and all in a salad. From a book entitled The History of Garagantua, 1594. Laneham, however, mentions the book of Garagantua in 1575. The giant in Rabelais is called Gargantua (q.v.).

“You must borrow me Gargantua's mouth first [before I can utter so long a word]; `tis a word too great for any mouth of this age's size.” — Shakespeare: As You Like It, iii. 2.

Garagantuan

Threatening, bullying. (See preceding.)

Garble (g hard) properly means to sift out the refuse. Thus, by the statute of 1 James I. 19, a penalty is imposed on the sale of drugs not garbled. We now use the word to express a mutilated extract, in which the sense of the author is perverted by what is omitted. (French, garber, to make clean; Spanish, garbillar.)

“A garbled quotation may be the most effectual perversion of an author's meaning.” — McCosh: Divine Government, p. 14.

One of the best garbled quotations is this: David said (Psalm xiv. 1), “There is no God” (omitting the preceding words, “The fool hath said in his heart.”)

Garcias

(g hard). The soul of Pedro Garcias. Money. It is said that two scholars of Salamanca discovered a tombstone with this inscription: — “Here lies the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias;" and on searching for this “soul” found a purse with a hundred golden ducats. (Gil Blas, Preface.)

Gardarike

(4 syl., g hard). So Russia is called in the Eddas.

Garden

(g hard). The garden of Joseph of Arimathea is said to be the spot where the rotunda of the Holy Sepulchre now stands.

The Garden or Garden Sect. The disciples of Epicurus, who taught in his own private garden.

“Epicurus in his garden was languid; the birds of the air have more enjoyment of their food.” — Ecce Homo.

Garden of England. Worcestershire and Kent are both so called. Garden of Europe. Italy.

Garden of France. Amboise, in the department of Indre—et—Loire. Garden of India. Oude.

Garden of Ireland. Carlow. Garden of Italy. The island of Sicily. Garden of South Wales. The southern division of Glamorganshire. Garden of Spain. Andalusia.

Garden of the Sun. The East Indian (or Malayan) archipelago. Garden of the West. Illinois; Kansas is also so called. Garden of the World. The region of the Mississippi.

Gardener

(g hard). Get on, gardener! Get on, you slow and clumsy coachman. The allusion is to a man who is both gardener and coachman.

Gardener. Adam is so called by Tennyson.

“From you blue sky above us bent,

The grand old gardener and his wife [Adam and Eve] Smile at the claims of long descent.”

Lady Clara Vere de Vere

“Thou, old Adam's likeness,

Get to dress this garden.”

Shakespeare: Richard II., III. 4.

Gardening

(g hard). (See Adam's Profession.)

Father of landscape gardening. Lenotre (1613—1700).

Gargamelle (3 syl., g hard) was the wife of Grangousier, and daughter of the king of the Parpaillons (butterflies). On the day that she gave birth to Gargantua she ate sixteen quarters, two bushels, three pecks, and a pipkin of dirt, the mere remains left in the tripe which she had for supper; for, as the proverb says —

“Scrape tripe as clean as e'er you can,

A tithe of filth will still remain.”

Gargamelle. Said to be meant for Anne of Brittany. She was the mother of Gargantua, in the satirical romance of Gargantua and Pantagruel', by Rabelais. Motteux, who makes “Pantagruel” to be Anthony de Bourbon, and “Gargantua” to be Henri d'Albret, says “Gargamelle” is designed for Catherine de Foix, Queen of Navarre. (Rabelais, i. 4.)

Gargantua

(g hard), according to Rabelais, was son of Grangousier and Gargamelle. Immediately he was born he cried out “Drink, drink!” so lustily that the words were heard in Beauce and Bibarois; whereupon his royal father exclaimed, “Que grand tu as!” which, being the first words he uttered after the birth of the child, were accepted as its name; so it was called “Gah—gran'—tu—as,” corrupted into Gar—g'an—tu—a. It needed

17,913 cows to supply the babe with milk. When he went to Paris to finish his education he rode on a mare as big as six elephants, and took the bells of Notre Dame to hang on his mare's neck as jingles. At the prayer of the Parisians he restored the bells, and they consented to feed his mare for nothing. On his way home he was fired at from the castle at Vede Ford, and on reaching home combed his hair with a comb 900 feet long, when at every “rake” seven bullet—balls fell from his hair. Being desirous of a salad for dinner, he went to cut some lettuces as big as walnut—trees, and ate up six pilgrims from Sebastian, who had hidden themselves among them out of fear. Picrochole, having committed certain offences, was attacked by Gargantua in the rock Clermond, and utterly defeated; and Gargantua, in remembrance of this victory, founded and endowed the abbey of Theleme [Te—lame]. (Rabelais: Gargantua, i. 7.)

Gargantua is said to be a satire on Francois I., but this cannot be correct, as he was born in the kingdom of the butterflies, was sent to Paris to finish his education, and left it again to succour his own country. Motteux, perceiving these difficulties, thinks it is meant for Henri d'Albret, King of Navarre.

Gargantua's mare. Those who make Gargantua to be Francois I. make his “great mare” to be Mme. d'Estampes. Motteux, who looks upon the romance as a satire on the Reform party, is at a loss how to apply this word, and merely says, “It is some lady.” Rabelais says, “She was as big as six elephants, and had her feet cloven into fingers. She was of a burnt—sorrel hue, with a little mixture of dapple—grey; but, above all, she had a terrible tail, for it was every whit as great as the steeple pillar of St. Mark.” When the beast got to Orléans, and the wasps assaulted her, she switched about her tail so furiously that she knocked down all the trees that grew in the vicinity, and Gargantua, delighted, exclaimed, “Je trouve beau ce!” wherefore the locality has been called “Beauce” ever since. The satire shows the wilfulness and extravagance of court mistresses.

(Rabelais: Gargantua and Pantagruel, book i. 16.)

Gargantua's shepherds, according to Motteux, mean Lutheran preachers; but those who look upon the romance as a political satire, think the Crown ministers and advisers are intended.

Gargantua's thirst. Motteux says the “great thirst” of Gargantua, and “mighty drought" at Pantagruel's birth, refer to the withholding the cup from the laity, and the clamour raised by the Reform party for the wine as well as the bread in the eucharist.

Gargantuan

Enormous, inordinate, great beyond all limits. It needed 900 ells of Châtelleraut linen to make the body of his shirt, and 200 more for the gussets; for his shoes 406 ells of blue and crimson velvet were required, and 1,100 cow—hides for the soles. He could play 207 different games, picked his teeth with an elephant's tusk, and did everything in the same “large way.”

“It sounded like a Gargantuan order for a dram.” — The Standard.

A Gargantuan course of studies. A course including all languages, as well ancient as modern, all the sciences, all the —ologies and —onomies, together with calisthenics and athletic sports. Gargantua wrote to his son Pantagruel, commanding him to learn Greek, Latin, Chaldaic, Arabic; all history, geometry, arithmetic, and music; astronomy and natural philosophy, so that “there be not a river in all the world thou dost not know the name of, and nature of all its fishes; all the fowls of the air; all the several kinds of shrubs and herbs; all the metals hid in the bowels of the earth; with all gems and precious stones. I would furthermore have thee study the Talmudists and Cabalists, and get a perfect knowledge of man. In brief, I would have thee a bottomless pit of all knowledge.” (Rabelais: Pantagruel, book ii. 8.)

Gargittios

One of the dogs that guarded the herds and flocks of Geryon, and which Hercules killed. The other was the two—headed dog, named Orthos, or Orthros.

Gargouille

or Gargoil (g hard). A water—spout in church architecture. Sometimes also spelt Gurgoyle. They are usually carved into some fantastic shape, such as a dragon's head, through which the water flows. Gargouille was the great dragon that lived in the Seine, ravaged Rouen, and was slain by St. Romanus, Bishop of Rouen, in the seventh century. (See Dragon.)

Garibaldi's Red Shirt

The red shirt is the habitual upper garment of American sailors. Any Liverpudlian will tell you that some fifteen years ago a British tar might be discerned by his blue shirt, and a Yankee “salt” by his red. Garibaldi first adopted the American shirt, when he took the command of the merchantman in Baltimore.

Garland

(g hard).

“A chaplet should be composed of four roses ... and a garland should be formed of laurel or oak leaves, interspersed with acorns.” — J. E. Handbook of Heraldry, chap. vii. p. 105.

Garland. A collection of ballads in True Lovers' Garland, etc.

Nuptial garlands are as old as the hills. The ancient Jews used them, according to Selden (Uxor Heb., iii. 655); the Greek and Roman brides did the same (Vaughan, Golden Grove); so did the Anglo—Saxons and Gauls.

“Thre ornamentys pryncipaly to a wyfe: A rynge on hir fynger, a broch on hir brest, and a garlond on hir hede. The rynge betokenethe true love; the broch clennesse in herte and chastitye; the garlond ... gladness and the dignity of the sacrement of wedlock.” — Leland: Dives and Pauper (1493).

Garlick

is said to destroy the magnetic power of the loadstone. This notion, though proved to be erroneous, has the sanction of Pliny, Solinus, Ptolemy, Plutarch, Albertus, Mathiolas, Rueus, Rulandus, Renodaeus, Langius, and others. Sir Thomas Browne places it among Vulgar Errors (book ii. chap. 3.)

“Martin Rulandus saith that Onions and Garlick ... hinder the attractive power [of the magnet] and rob it of its virtue of drawing iron, to which Renodaeus agrees but this is all lies.” — W. Salmon: The Complete English Physician, etc., chap. xxv. p. 182.

Garnish

(g hard). Entrance—money, to be spent in drink, demanded by jailbirds of new—comers. In prison slang garnish means fetters, and garnish—money is money given for the “honour” of wearing fetters. The custom became obsolete with the reform of prisons. (French, garnissage, trimming, verb garnir, to decorate or

adorn.) (See Fielding's and Smollett's novels.)

Garratt

(g hard). The Mayor of Garratt. Garratt is between Wands—worth and Tooting; the first mayor of this village was elected towards the close of the eighteenth century; and his election came about thus: Garratt Common had been often encroached on, and in 1780 the inhabitants associated themselves together to defend their rights. The chairman of this association was entitled Mayor, and as it happened to be the time of a general election, the society made it a law that a new “mayor” should be chosen at every general election. The addresses of these mayors, written by Foote, Garrick, Wilkes, and others, are satires on the corruption of electors and political squibs. The first Mayor of Garratt was “Sir” John Harper, a retailer of brickdust in London; and the last was “Sir” Harry Dimsdale, muffin—seller, in 1796. Foote has a farce entitled The Mayor of Garratt.

Garraway's

i.e. Garraway's coffee—house, in Exchange Alley. It existed for 216 years, and here tea was sold, in 1657, for 16s. up to 50s. a pound. The house no longer exists.

Garrot'e

or Garotte (2 syl., g hard) is the Spanish garrote (a stick). The original way of garrotting in Spain was to place the victim on a chair with a cord round his neck, then to twist the cord with a stick till strangulation ensued. In 1851 General Lopez was garrotted by the Spanish authorities for attempting to gain possession of Cuba; since which time the thieves of London, etc., have adopted the method of strangling their victim by throwing their arms round his throat, while an accomplice rifles his pockets.

Garter

(g hard). Knights of the Garter. The popular legend is that Joan, Countess of Salisbury, accidentally slipped her garter at a court ball. It was picked up by her royal partner, Edward III., who gallantly diverted the attention of the guests from the lady by binding the blue band round his own knee, saying as he did so, “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (1348).

Wearing the garters of a pretty maiden either on the hat or knee was a common custom with our forefathers. Brides usually wore on their legs a host of gay ribbons, to be distributed after the marriage ceremony amongst the bridegroom's friends; and the piper at the wedding dance never failed to tie a piece of the bride's garter round his pipe. If there is any truth in the legend given above, the impression on the guests would be wholly different to what such an accident would produce in our days; but perhaps the “Order of the Garter,” after all, may be about tantamount to “The Order of the Ladies' Champions,” or “The Order of the Ladies' Favourites.”

Garvies

(2 syl., g soft). Sprats. So called from Inch Garvie, an isle in the Frith of Forth, near which they are caught.

Gasconade

(3 syl., g hard). Talk like that of a Gascon — absurd boasting, vainglorious braggadocio. It is said that a Gascon being asked what he thought of the Louvre in Paris, replied, “Pretty well; it reminds me of the back part of my father's stables.” The vainglory of this answer is more palpable when it is borne in mind that the Gascons were proverbially poor. The Dictionary of the French Academy gives us the following specimen: “A Gascon, in proof of his ancient nobility, asserted that they used in his father's house no other fuel than the batons of the family marshals.”

Gaston

(g hard). Lord of Claros, one of Charlemagne's paladins.

Gastrolators

People whose god is their belly. (Rabelais: Pantagruel, iv. 58.)

Gat—tooth

(g hard). Goat—tooth. (Anglo—Saxon, gæt.) Goat—toothed is having a lickerish tooth. Chaucer makes the wife of Bath say, “Gat—toothed I was, and that became me wele.”

Gate Money

Money paid at the gate for admission to the grounds where some contest is to be seen.

Gate—posts The post on which the gate hangs and swings is called the “hanging—post”; that against which it shuts is called the “banging post.”

Gate of Italy

That part of the valley of the Adige which is in the vicinity of Trent and Roveredo. A narrow gorge between two mountain ridges.

Gate of Tears

[Babelmandeb]. The passage into the Red Sea. So called by the Arabs from the number of shipwrecks that took place there.

“Like some ill—destined bark that steers

In silence through the Gate of Tears.”

T. Moore: Fire Worshippers.

Gath

(g hard), in Dryden's satire of Absalom and Achitophel, means Brussels, where Charles II. long resided while he was in exile.

“Had thus old David [Charles II.] ...

Not dared, when fortune called him, to be king, At Gath an exile he might still remain.”

Tell it not in Gath. Don't let your enemies hear it. Gath was famous as being the birthplace of the giant Goliath.

“Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.” — 2 Sam.i.20.

Gathered

= dead. The Bible phrase, “He was gathered to his fathers.”

“He was (for he is gathered) a little man with a coppery complexion.” — Dr. Geist, p. 25.

Gathers

(g hard). Out of gathers. In distress; in a very impoverished condition. The allusion is to a woman's gown, which certainly looks very seedy when “out of gathers” — i.e. when the cotton that kept the “pleats” together has given way. (Anglo—Saxon, gader—ian, to gather, or pleat.)

Gauche

(French, the left hand). Awkward. Awk, the left hand. (See Adroit.)

Gaucherie

(3 syl., g hard). Things not comme il faut; behaviour not according to the received forms of society; awkward and untoward ways. (See above.)

Gaudifer

(g hard). A champion, celebrated in the romance of Alexander. Not unlike the Scotch Bruce.

Gaudy—day

(A). A holiday, a feastday. (Latin gaudeo, to rejoice.)

Gaul

(g hard). France.

“Insulting Gaul has roused the world to war.”

Thomson: Autumn.

“Shall haughty Gaul invasion threat?” — Burns.

Gaunt (g hard). John of Gaunt. The third son of Edward III.; so called from Ghent, in Flanders, the place of his birth.

Gauntgrim

(g hard). The wolf.

“For my part (said he), I don't wonder at my cousin's refusing Bruin the bear and Gauntgrim the wolf. ... Bruin is always in the sulks, and Gauntgrim always in a passion.” — E. B. Lytton: Pilgrims of the Rhine, chap. xii.

Gauntlet

(g hard). To run the gantlet. To be hounded on all sides. Corruption of gantlope, the passage between two files of soldiers. (German, ganglaufen or gassenlaufen.) The reference is to a punishment common among sailors. If a companion had disgraced himself, the crew, provided with gauntlets or ropes' ends, were drawn up in two rows facing each other, and the delinquent had to run between them, while every man dealt him, in passing, as severe a chastisement as he could.

The custom exists among the North American Indians. (See Fenimore Cooper and Mayne Reid.)

To throw down the gauntlet. To challenge. The custom in the Middle Ages, when one knight challenged another, was for the challenger to throw his gauntlet on the ground, and if the challenge was accepted the person to whom it was thrown picked it up.

“It is not for Spain, reduced as she is to the lowest degree of social inanition, to throw the gauntlet to the right and left.” — The Times.

Gautama

(g hard). The chief deity of Burmah, whose favourite offering is a paper umbrella.

The four sublime verities of Gautama are as follows: (1) Pain exists.

(2) The cause of pain is “birth sin.” The Buddhist supposes that man has passed through many previous existences, and all the heaped—up sins accumulated in these previous states constitute man's “birth sin.”

(3) Pain is ended only by Nirvana.

(4) The way that leads to Nirvana is — right faith, right judgment, right language, right purpose, right practice, right obedience, right memory, and right meditation (eight in all).

Gautier

and Garguille (French). All the world and his wife.

Se mocquer de Gautier et de Garguille (to make fun of everyone). Gautier—Garguille was a clown of the seventeenth century, who gave himself unbounded licence, and provoked against himself a storm of angry feeling.

Gauvaine

or Gawain = Gau—wain (2 syl., g hard). Sir Gauvaine the Courteous. One of Arthur's kinghts, and his nephew. He challenged the Green Knight, and struck off his head; but the headless knight picked up his poll again and walked off, telling Sir Gauvaine to meet him twelve months hence. Sir Gauvaine kept his appointment, and was hospitably entertained; but, taking possession of the girdle belonging to the lady of the house, was chastised by the Green Knight, confessed his fault, and was forgiven.

“The gentle Gawain's courteous lore,

Hector de Mares and Pellinore,

And Lancelot that evermore

Looked stol'nwise on the queen.”

Sir W. Scott: Bridal of Triermain, ii. 13.

Gavelkind

(g hard). A tenure in Wales, Kent, and Northumberland, whereby land descended from the father to all his sons in equal proportions. The youngest had the homestead, and the eldest the horse and arms.

Coke (1 Institutes, 140 a) says the word is gif eal cyn (give all the kin); but Lambarde suggests the Anglo—Saxon gafol or gavel, rent; and says it means “land which yields rent”! gavel cyn, rent for the family derived from land. There is a similar Irish word, gabhailcine, a family tenure.

Gawain

(g hard). (See Gauvaine .)

Gawrey

(g hard). One of the race of flying women who appeared to Peter Wilkins in his solitary cave. (Robert Pultock: Peter Wilkins.)

Gay

(g hard). Gay as the king's candle. A French phrase, alluding to an ancient custom observed on the 6th of January, called the “Eve or Vigil of the Kings,” when a candle of divers colours was burnt. The expression is used to denote a woman who is more showily dressed than is consistent with good taste.

Gay Deceiver

(A). A Lothario (q.v.); a libertine.

“I immediately quitted the precincts of the castle, and posted myself on the high road, where the gay deceiver was sure to be intercepted on his return.” — Le Sage: Adventures of Gil Blas (Smollett's translation). (1749.)

Gay Girl

A woman of light or extravagant habits. Lady Anne Berkeley, dissatisfied with the conduct of her

daughter—in—law (Lady Catherine Howard), exclaimed, “By the blessed sacrament, this gay girl will beggar my son Henry.” (See above.)

“What eyleth you? Some gay gurl, God it wot, Hath brought you thus upon the very trot” (i.e. put you on your high horse, or into a passion). Chaucer: Canterbury Tales, 3,767.

Gaze

(1 syl., g hard). To stand at gaze. To stand in doubt what to do. A term in forestry. When a stag first hears the hounds it stands dazed, looking all round, and in doubt what to do.

Heralds call a stag which is represented full—faced, a “stag at gaze.”

“The American army in the central states remained wholly at gaze.” — Lord Mahon: History.

“As the poor frighted deer, that stands at gaze,

Wildly determining which way to fly.”

Shakespeare: Rape of Lucrece, 1149—50.

Gaze—hound

(See Lyme—Hound .)

Gazette

(2 syl., g hard). A newspaper. The first newspapers were issued in Venice by the Government, and came out in manuscript once a month, during the war of 1563 between the Venetians and Turks. The intelligence was read publicly in certain places, and the fee for hearing it read was one gazetta (a Venetian coin, somewhat less than a farthing in value).

The first official English newspaper, called The Oxford Gazette, was published in 1642, at Oxford, where the Court was held. On the removal of the Court to London, the name was changed to The London Gazette. The name was revived in 1665, during the Great Fire. Now the official Gazette, published every Tuesday and Friday, contains announcements of pensions, promotions, bankruptcies, dissolutions of partnerships, etc. (See Newspapers.)

Gazetted

(g hard). Published in the London Gazette, an official newspaper.

Gaznivides

(3 syl.). A dynasty of Persia, which gave four kings and lasted fifty years (999—1049), founded by Mahmoud Gazni, who reigned from the Ganges to the Caspian Sea.

Gear

(g hard) properly means “dress.” In machinery, the bands and wheels that communicate motion to the working part are called the gearing. (Saxon, gearwa, clothing.)

In good gear. To be in good working order. Out of gear. Not in working condition, when the “gearing” does not act properly; out of health.

Gee—up!

and Gee—woo! addressed to horses both mean “Horse, get on.” Gee = horse. In Notts and many other counties nurses say to young children, “Come and see the gee—gees.” There is not the least likelihood that Gee—woo is the Italian gio, because gio will not fit in with any of the other terms, and it is absurd to suppose our peasants would go to Italy for such a word. Woa! or Woo! (q.v.), meaning stop, or halt, is quite another word. We subjoin the following quotation, although we differ from it. (See Come Ather.)

“Et cum sic gloriaretur, et cogitares cum quanta gloria duceretur ad illum virum super equum, dicendo Gio! Gio! cepit pede percutere terram quasi pungeret equum calcaribus.” — Dialogus Creaturarum (1480).

Geese

(g hard). (See Gander , Goose.)

Geese save the capitol. The tradition is that when the Gauls invaded Rome a detachment in single file clambered up the hill of the capitol so silently that the foremost man reached the top without being challenged; but while he was striding over the rampart, some sacred geese, disturbed by the noise, began to cackle, and awoke the garrison. Marcus Manlius rushed to the wall and hurled the fellow over the precipice. To commemorate this event, the Romans carried a golden goose in procession to the capitol every year (B.C. 390).

“Those consecrated geese in orders,

That to the capitol were warders,

And being then upon patrol,

With noise alone beat off the Gaul.”

Butler: Hudibras, ii. 3.

All his swans are geese, or All his swans are turned to geese. All his expectations end in nothing; all his boasting ends in smoke. Like a person who fancies he sees a swan on a river, but finds it to be only a goose. The phrase is sometimes reversed thus, “All his geese are swans.” Commonly applied to people who think too much of the beauty and talent of their children.

Every man thinks his own geese swans. Everyone is prejudiced by self—love. Every crow thinks its own nestling the fairest. Every child is beautiful in its mother's eyes. (See Æsop's fable, The Eagle and the Owl.)

Latin: Suum cuique pulchrum. Sua cuique sponsa, mihi meas. Sua cuique res est carissima. Asinus asino, sus suo pulcher.

German: Eine güte mutter halt ihre kinder vor die schönsten. French: A chaque oiseau son nid paraît beau.

Italian: A ogni grolla paion' belli i suoi grollatini. Ad ogni uccello, suo nido è bello.

The more geese the more lovers. The French newspaper called L'Europe, December, 1865, repeats this proverb, and says: — “It is customary in England for every gentleman admitted into society to send a fat goose at Christmas to the lady of the house he is in the habit of visiting. Beautiful women receive a whole magazine

... and are thus enabled to tell the number of their lovers by the number of fat geese sent to them.” (The Times, December 27th, 1865.) Truly the Frenchman knows much more about us than we ever “dreamt of in our philosophy.”

Geese. (See Goose, Cag Mag.)

Gehenna

(Hebrew, g hard). The place of eternal torment. Strictly speaking, it means simply the Valley of Hinnom (Ge—Hinnom), where sacrifices to Moloch were offered and where refuso of all sorts was subsequently cast, for the consumption of which fires were kept constantly burning.

“And made his grove

The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence And black Gehenna called, the type of hell.” Milton: Paradise Lost, book i. 403—5.

Gelert

(g hard). The name of Llewellyn's dog. One day a wolf entered the room where the infant son of the Welsh prince was asleep; Gelert flew at it and killed it; but when Llewellyn returned home and saw his dog's mouth bloody, he hastily concluded that it had killed his child, and thrust it through with his sword. The howl of the dog awoke the child, and the prince saw too late his fatal rashness. Beth—gelert is the name of the place where the dog was buried. (See Beth—Gelert, Dog.)

A similar story is told of Czar Piras of Russia. In the Gesta Romanorum the story is told of Folliculus, a knight, but instead of a serpent the dog is said to have killed a wolf. The story occurs again in the Seven Wise Maste,s. In the Sanskrit version the dog is called an ichneumon and the wolf a “black snake.” In the Hitopadesa (iv, 3) the dog is an otter; in the Arabic a weasel; in the Mongolian a pole—cat; in the Persian a cat, etc.

Gellatley

(Davie). The idiot servant of the Baron of Bradwardine. (Sir W. Scott: Waverley.) Also spelt GELLATLY.

Gemara

(g hard), which means “complement,” is applied to the second part of the Talmud, which consists of annotations, discussions, and amplifications of the Jewish Mishna. There is the Babylonian Gemara and the Jerusalem Gemara. The former, which is the more complete, is by the academies of Babylon; the latter by those of Palestine.

“Scribes and Pharisees ... set little value on the study of the Law itself, but much on that of the commentaries of the rabbis, now embodied in the Mishna and Gemara.” — Geikie: Life of Christ, vol. ii. ch. xxxvi. p. 64.

Gemmagog

Son of the giant Oromedon, and inventor of the Poulan shoes — i.e. shoes with a spur behind, and turned—up toes fastened to the knees. These shoes were forbidden by Charles V. of France in 1365, but the fashion revived again. (Duchat: Ouvres de Rabelais.)

According to the same authority, giants were great inventors: Erix invented legerdemain; Gabbara, drinking healths; Gemmagog, Poulan shoes; Hapmouche, drying and smoking neats' tongues; etc. etc.

Gems

(See Jewels .)

Gendarmes “Men at arms,” the armed police of France. The term was first applied to those who marched in the train of knights; subsequently to the cavalry; in the time of Louis XIV. to a body of horse charged with the preservation of order; after the revolution to a military police chosen from old soldiers of good character; now it is applied to the ordinary police, whose costume is half civil and half military.

Gender—words:

Billy, nanny; boar, sow; buck, doe; bull, cow; cock, hen; dog, bitch; ewe, tup; groom = man; he, she; Jack, Jenny; male, female; man, maid; man, woman; master, mistress; Tom; tup, dam; and several

“Christian” names; as in the following examples: —

Ape: Dog ape, bitch ape. Ass: Jack ass and Jenuy; he ass, she ass. Bear: He bear, she bear.

Bird: Male bird, female bird; cock bird, hen bird.

Blackcock (grouse); moorcock and hen (red grouse). Bridegroom, bride.

Calf: Bull calf, cow calf.

Cat: Tom cat, lady cat, he and she cat. Gib cat (q.v.). Charwoman.

Child: Male child, female child; man child, woman child (child is either male or female, except when sex is referred to).

Devil: He and she devil (if sex is referred to). Donkey: Male and female donkey. (See Ass.) Elephant: Bull and cow elephant; male and female elephant. Fox: Dog and bitch fox; the bitch is also called a vixen.

Game cock.

Gentleman, gentlewoman or lady.

Goat: Billy and Nanny goat; he and she goat; buck goat. Hare: Buck and doe hare.

Heir: Heir male, heir female

Kinsman, kinswoman.

Lamb: ewe lamb, tup lamb.

Mankind, womankind.

Merman, mermaid.

Milkman, milkmaid or milk—woman.

Moorcock, moorhen

Otter: Dog and bitch otter.

Partridge: Cock and hen partridge.

Peacock, peahen.

Pheasant: Cock and hen pheasant. Pig: Boar and sow pig.

Rabbit: Buck and doe rabbit. Rat: A Jack rat.

Schoolmaster, schoolmistress.

Seal: Bull and cow. The bull of fur seals under six years of age is called a “Bachelor.” Servant: Male and female servant; man and maid servant.

Singer, songstress; man and woman singer.

Sir [John], Lady [Mary].

Sparrow: Cock and hen sparrow.

Swan: A cob or cock swan, pen—swan.

Turkey cock and hen.

Wash or washer—woman.

Whale: Bull or Unicorn, and cow.

Wren: Jenny; cock Robin; Tom tit; etc. Wolf: Dog wolf, bitch or she—wolf.

Generally the name of the animal stands last; in the following instances, however, it stands before the genderword: —

Blackcock; bridegroom; charwoman; gamecock; gentleman and gentlewoman; heir male and female; kinsman and woman; mankind, womankind; milkman, milkmaid or —woman; moorcock and hen; peacock and hen; servant man and maid; turkey cock and hen; wash or washer—woman.

In a few instances the gender—word does not express gender, as jackdaw, jack pike, roebuck, etc. (2) The following require no genderword: —

Bachelor, spinster or maid.

Beau, belle.

Boar, sow (pig).

Boy, girl (both child).

Brother, sister.

Buck, doe (stag or deer).

Bull, cow (black cattle).

Cock, hen (barndoor fowls).

Cockerel, pullet.

Colt, filly (both foal).

Dad, father.

Dog, bitch (both dog, if sex is not referred to).

Drake, duck (both duck, if sex is not referred to). Drone, bee.

Earl, countess.

Father, mother (both parents).

Friar, nun.

Gaffer, gammer.

Gander, goose (both geese, if sex is not referred to). Gentleman, lady (both gentlefolk).

Hart, roe (both deer).

Husband, wife.

Kipper, shedder or baggit (spent salmon).

King, queen (both monarch or sovereign). Lad, lass.

Mallard, wild—duck (both wild fowl).

Man, maid.

Man, woman.

Master, mistress.

Milter, spawner (fish).

Monk, nun.

Nephew, niece.

Papa, mamma.

Ram, ewe (sheep).

Ruff, reeve.

Sir, ma'am.

Sir [John], Lady [Mary].

Sire, dam.

Sloven, slut.

Son, daughter.

Stag, hind (both stag, if sex is not referred to). Stallion, mare (both horse).

Steer, heifer.

Tup, dam (sheep).

Uncle, aunt.

Widow, widower.

Wizard, witch.

The females of other animals are made by adding a suffix to the male (—ess, —ina, —ine, —ix, —a, —ee, etc.); as, lion, lioness; czar, czarina; hero, heroine; testator, testatrix, etc.

General Funk

A panic.

“The influence of `General Funk' was, at one time, far too prevalent among both the colonists and the younger soldiers.” — Montague: Campaigning in South Africa, chap. vi. (1880).

General Issue

is pleading “Not guilty” to a criminal charge; “Never indebted" to a charge of debt; the issue formed by a general denial of the plaintiff's charge.

Generalissimo

(g soft). Called Tagus among the ancient Thessalians, Brennus among the ancient Gauls, Pendragon among the ancient Welsh or Celts.

Generous

(g soft). Generous as Hatim. An Arabian expression. Hatim was a Bedouin chief famous for his warlike deeds and boundless generosity. His son was contemporary with Mahomet.

Geneura

(g soft). Daughter of the King of Scotland. Lurcanio carried her off captive, and confined her in his father's castle. She loved Ariodantes, who being told that she was false, condemned her to die for incontinence, unless she found a champion to defend her. Ariodantes himself became her champion, and, having vindicated her innocence, married her. This is a satire on Arthur, whose wife intrigued with Sir Launcelot. (Orlando Furioso, bk. 1.)

Geneva

(g soft), contracted into Gin. Originally made from malt and juniper—berries. (French, genièvre, a juniper berry.)

Geneva Bible

The English version in use prior to the present one; so called because it was originally printed at Geneva (in 1560).

Geneva Bible

(The). The wine cup or beer pot. The pun is on Geneva, which is the synonym of gin. (Latin, bibo, I drink [gin].)

“Eh bien, Gudyil, lui dit le vieux major, quelle—diable de discipline? Vous avez déjà lu la Bible de Genève ce matin.” — Les Puritains d'Ecosse, part iii. chap. 2.

Geneva Bull

Stephen Marshall, a preacher who roared like a bull of Bashan. Called Geneva because he was a disciple of John Calvin.

Geneva Courage

Pot valour; the braggadocio which is the effect of having drunk too much gin. Gin is a corrupt contraction of Geneva, or, rather, of genièvre. The juniper—berry at one time used to flavour the extract of malt in the manufacture of gin. It may be used still in some qualities of gin. (See Dutch Courage.)

Geneva Doctrines

Calvinism. Calvin, in 1541, was invited to take up his residence in Geneva as the public teacher of theology. From this period Geneva was for many years the centre of education for the Protestant youths of Europe.

Geneva Print (Reading). Drinking gin or whisky.

“ `Why, John,' said the veteran, `what a discipline is this you have been keeping? You have been reading Geneva print this morning already.' `I have been reading the Litany,' said John. shaking his head, with a look of drunken gravity.” — Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality, chap. xi.

Genevieve

(St.). The sainted patroness of the city of Paris. (422—512.)

Genii King

King Solomon is supposed to preside over the whole race of genii. (D'Herbelot: Notes to the Koran, c. 2.)

Genitive Case

means the genus case, the case which shows the genus; thus, a bird of the air, of the sea, of the marshes, etc. The part in italics shows to what genus the bird belongs. Our's is the adjective sign, the same as the Sanskrit syâ, as udaka (water), udakasya (of water, or aquatic). So in Greek, demos (people), demo—sios (belonging to the people), or genitive demosio, softened into demo—'io. In Chaucer, etc., the genitive is written in full, as The Clerkes Tale, The Cokes Tale, The Knightes Tale, The Milleres Tale, etc.

Genius

Genii (Roman mythology) were attendant spirits. Everyone had two of these tutelaries from his cradle to his grave. But the Roman genii differ in many respects from the Eastern. The Persian and Indian genii had a corporeal form, which they could change at pleasure. They were not guardian or attendant spirits, but fallen angels, dwelling in Ginnistan, under the dominion of Eblis. They were naturally hostile to man, though compelled sometimes to serve them as slaves. The Roman genii were tutelary spirits, very similar to the guardian angels spoken of in Scripture (St. Matt. xviii. 10). (The word is the old Latin geno, to be born, from the notion that birth and life were due to these dii genitales.)

Genius (birth—wit) is innate talent; hence propensity, nature, inner man. “Cras genium mero curabis” (to—morrow you shall indulge your inner man with wine), Horace, 3 Odes, xvii. 14. “Indulgere genio” (to give loose to one's propensity), Persius, v. 151. “Defraudare genium suum” (to stint one's appetite, to deny one's self), Terence: Phormio, i. 1. (See above.)

Genius. Tom Moore says that Common Sense went out one moonlight night with Genius on his rambles; Common Sense went on many wise things saying, but Genius went gazing at the stars, and fell into a river. This is told of Thale by Plato, and Chaucer has introduced it into his Milleres Tale.

“So ferde another clerk with astronomye:

He walkëd in the feeldës for to prye

Upon the sterrës, what ther shuld befall,

Till he was in a marlë pit i—fall.”

Canterbury Tales, 3,457.

My evil genius (my ill—luck). The Romans maintained that two genii attended every man from birth to death

— one good and the other evil. Good luck was brought about by the agency of “his good genius,” and ill luck by that of his “evil genius.”

Genius Loci

(Latin). The tutelary deity of a place.

“In the midst of this wreck of ancient books and utensils, with a gravity equal to [that of] Marius among the ruins of Carthage, sat a large black cat, which, to a superstitious eye, might have presented the genius loci, the tutelar demon of the apartment.” — Sir W. Scott: The Antiquary, chap. iii.

Genoa

from the Latin, genu (the knee); so called from the bend made there by the Adriatic. The whole of Italy is called a man's leg, and this is his knee.

Genovefa

(g soft). Wife of Count Palatine Siegfried, of Brabant, in the time of Charles Martel. Being suspected of infidelity, she was driven into the forest of Ardennes, where she gave birth to a son, who was nourished by a white doe. In time, Siegfried discovered his error, and restored his wife and child to their proper home.

Genre Painter

(genre 1 syl.). A painter of domestic, rural, or village scenes, such as A Village Wedding, The Young Recruit, Blind Man's Buff, The Village Politician, etc. It is a French term, and means, “Man: his customs, habits, and ways of life.” Wilkie, Ostade, Gerard Dow, etc., belonged to this class. In the drama, Victor Hugo introduced the genre system in lieu of the stilted, unnatural style of Louis XIV.'s era.

“We call those `genre' canvases, whereon are painted idyls of the fireside, the roadside, and the farm; pictures of real life.” — E. C. Stedman: Poets of America, chap. iv. p. 98.

Gens Braccata

Trousered people. The Romans wore no trousers like the Gauls, Scythians, and Persians. The Gauls wore “braccæ” and were called Gens braccata.

Gens Togata

The nation which wore the toga. The Greeks wore the “pallium" and were called Gens palliata.

Gentle

(g soft) means having the manners of genteel persons — i.e. persons of family, called gens in Latin.

“We must be gentle, now we are gentlemen.” —

Shakespeare: Winter's Tale, v. 2.

The gentle craft. The gentleman's trade, so called from the romance of Prince Crispin, who is said to have made shoes. It is rather remarkable that the “gentle craft” should be closely connected with our snob (q.v.).

“Here Hans Sachs, the cobbler poet, laureate of the gentle craft, Wisest of the Twelve Wise Masters, in huge folios sang and laughed.” Longfellow: Nuremberg, stanza 19.

The gentle craft. Angling. The pun is on gentle, a maggot or grub used for baiting the hook in angling.

Gentle Shepherd

(The). George Grenville, the statesman, a nickname derived from a line applied to him by Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham. Grenville, in the course of one of his speeches, addressed the House interrogatively, “Tell me where? tell me where?” Pitt hummed a line of a song then very popular, “Gentle shepherd, tell me where?” and the House burst into laughter (1712—1720).

Gentleman

(g soft). A translation of the French gentilhomme, one who belongs to the gens or stock. According to the Roman law, gens—men, or gentlemen, were those only who had a family name, were born of free parents, had no slave in their ancestral line, and had never been degraded to a lower rank.

A gentleman of the four outs. A vulgar upstart, with—out manners, with—out wit, with—out money, and with—out credit.

Gentleman of Paper and Wax The first of a new line ennobled with knighthood or other dignity, to whom are given titles and coat—armour. They are made “gentlemen” by patent and a seal.

Geoffrey Crayon

The hypothetical author of the Sketch Book. Washington Irving, of New York (1783—1859).

Geology

(g soft). The father of geology. William Smith (1769—1840).

Geomancy

(g soft). Divining by the earth. So termed because these diviners in the sixteenth century drew on the earth their magic circles, figures, and lines. (Greek, ge, the earth; mantei'a, prophecy.)

Geometry

(g soft) means land—measuring. The first geometrician was a ploughman pacing out his field. (Greek, ge, the earth; metron, a measure.)

George II

was nicknamed “Prince Titi.” (See Titi .)

George III

was nicknamed “Farmer George,” or “The Farmer King.” (See Farmer.)

George IV

was nicknamed “The First Gentleman of Europe,” “Fum the Fourth,” “Prince Florizel,” “The Adonis of fifty,” and “The Fat Adonis of fifty.” (See each of these nicknames. )

George, Mark, John

(SS.). Nostradamus wrote in 1566:

“Quand Georges Dieu crucifera,

Que Marc le ressucitera,

Et que St. Jean le portera,

La fin du monde arrivera.”

In 1886 St. George's day fell on Good Friday, St. Mark's day on Easter Sunday, and St. John's day on Corpus Christi — but “the end of the world” did not then arrive.

George

(St.) (g soft). Gibbon, in his Decline and Fall, ii. 323, asserts that the patron saint of England was George of Cappadocia, the turbulent Arian Bishop of Alexandria, torn to pieces by the populace in 360, and revered as a saint by the opponents of Athanasius; but this assertion has been fully disproved by the Jesuit Papebroch, Milner, and others.

That St. George is a veritable character is beyond all reasonable doubt, and there seems no reason to deny that he was born in Armorica, and was beheaded in Diocletian's persecution by order of Datianus, April 23rd, 303. St. Jerome (331—420) mentions him in one of his martyrologies; in the next century there were many churches to his honour. St. Gregory (540—604) has in his Sacramentary a “Preface for St. George's Day;” and the Venerable Bede (672—735), in his martyrology, says, “At last St. George truly finished his martyrdom by decapitation, although the gests of his passion are numbered among the apocryphal writings.”

In regard to his connection with England, Ashmole, in his History of the Order of the Garter, says that King Arthur, in the sixth century, placed the picture of St. George on his banners; and Selden tells us he was patron saint of England in the Saxon times. It is quite certain that the Council of Oxford in 1222 commanded his festival to be observed in England as a holiday of lesser rank; and on the establishment of the Order of the Garter by Edward III. St. George was adopted as the patron saint.

The dragon slain by St. George is simply a common allegory to express the triumph of the Christian hero over evil, which John “the Divine” beheld under the image of a dragon. Similarly, St. Michael, St. Margaret, St. Silvester, and St. Martha are all depicted as slaying dragons; the Saviour and the Virgin as treading them under their feet; and St. John the Evangelist as charming a winged dragon from a poisoned chalice given him to drink. Even John Bunyan avails himself of the same figure, when he makes Christian encounter Apollyon and prevail against him.

George (St.), the Red Cross Knight (in Spenser's Faërie Queene, bk. i.), represents “Piety.” He starts with Una (Truth) in his adventures, and is driven into Wandering Wood, where he encounters Error, and passes the night with Una in Hypocrisy's cell. Being visited by a false vision, the knight abandons Una, and goes with Duessa (False—faith) to the palace of Pride. He leaves this palace clandestinely, but being overtaken by Duessa is persuaded to drink of an enchanted fountain, when he becomes paralysed, and is taken captive by Orgoglio. Una informs Arthur of the sad event, and the prince goes to the rescue. He slays Orgoglio, and the Red Cross Knight, being set free, is taken by Una to the house of Holiness to be healed. On leaving Holiness, both Una and the knight journey towards Eden. As they draw near, the dragon porter flies at the knight, and St. George has to do battle with it for three whole days before he succeeds in slaying it. The dragon being slain, the two enter Eden, and the Red Cross Knight is united to Una in marriage.

St. George and the Dragon. According to the ballad given in Percy's Reliques, St. George was the son of Lord Albert of Coventry. His mother died in giving him birth, and the new—born babe was stolen away by the weird lady of the woods, who brought him up to deeds of arms. His body had three marks; a dragon on the breast, a garter round one of the legs, and a blood—red cross on the arm. When he grew to manhood he first fought against the Saracens, and then went to Sylene, a city of Libya, where was a stagnant lake infested by a huge dragon, whose poisonous breath “had many a city slain,” and whose hide “no spear nor sword could pierce.” Every day a virgin was sacrificed to it, and at length it came to the lot of Sabra, the king's daughter, to become its victim. She was tied to the stake and left to be devoured, when St. George came up, and vowed to take her cause in hand. On came the dragon, and St. George, thrusting his lance into its mouth, killed it on the spot. The king of Morocco and the king of Egypt, unwilling that Sabra should marry a Christian, sent St. George to Persia, and directed the “sophy" to kill him. He was accordingly thrust into a dungeon, but making good his escape, carried off Sabra to England, where she became his wife, and they lived happily at Coventry together till their death.

A very similar tale is told of Hesionê, daughter of Laomedon. (See Hesione, Sea Monsters.)

St. George he was for England, St. Denis was for France. This refers to the war—cries of the two nations — that of England was “St. George!” that of France, “Montjoye St. Denis!”

“Our ancient word of courage, fair `St. George,'

Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons.” Shakespeare: Richard III., v. 3.

When St. George goes on horseback St. Yves goes on foot. In times of war lawyers have nothing to do. St. George is the patron of soldiers, and St. Ives of lawyers.

St. George's Arm. The Hellespont is so called by the Catholic Church in honour of St. George, the patron saint of England. (Papebroch: Actes des Saints. )

St. George's Channel. An arm of the Atlantic, separating Ireland from Great Britain; so called in honour of St. George, referred to above.

St. George's Cross. Red on a white field.

St. George's Day (April 23rd). A day of deception and oppression. It was the day when new leases and contracts used to be made.

George a' Green

As good as George a' Green. Resolute—minded; one who will do his duty come what may. George a' Green was the famous pinder or pound—keeper of Wakefield, who resisted Robin Hood, Will Scarlett, and Little John single—handed when they attempted to commit a trespass in Wakefield.

“Were ye bold as George—a—Green,

I shall make bold to turn again.”

Samuel Butler: Hudibras.

George Eliot

The literary name of Marian Evans [Lewes], authoress of Adam Bede, Mill on the Floss, Felix Holt, etc.

George Geith

The hero of a novel by Mrs. Trafford [Riddell]. He is one who will work as long as he has breath to draw, and would die in harness. He would fight against all opposing circumstances while he had a drop of blood left in his veins, and may be called the model of untiring industry and indomitable moral courage.

George Sand

The pen—name of Mme. Dudevant, born at Paris 1804. Her maiden name was Dupin.

George Street

(Strand, London) commences the precinct of an ancient mansion which originally belonged to the bishops of Norwich. After passing successively into the possession of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, the archbishops of York, and the Crown, it came to George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. The second Duke of Buckingham pulled down the mansion and built the streets and alley called respectively “George" (street), “Villiers” (street), “Duke” (street), “Of” (alley), and “Buckingham” (street).

Geraint'

(g hard). Tributary Prince of Devon, and one of the knights of the Round Table. Overhearing part of E'nid's words, he fancied she was faithless to him, and treated her for a time very harshly; but Enid nursed him so carefully when he was wounded that he saw his error, “nor did he doubt her more, but rested in her fealty, till be crowned a happy life with a fair death.” (Tennyson: Idylls of the King; Enid. )

Geraldine

(3 syl., g soft). The Fair Geraldine. Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald is so called in the Earl of Surrey's poems.

Geranium

(g soft). The Turks say this was a common mallow changed by the touch of Mahomet's garment. The word is from the Greek geranos (a crane); and the plant is called “Crane's Bill,” from the resemblance of the fruit to the bill of a crane.

Gerda

(g hard). Wife of Frey, and daughter of the frost giant Gymer. She is so beautiful that the brightness of her naked arms illuminates both air and sea. Frey (the genial spring) married Gerda (the frozen earth), and Gerda became the mother of children. (Scandinavian mythology. )

German or Germaine (g soft). Pertaining to, related to, as cousins—german (first cousins), german to the subject (bearing on or pertinent to the subject). This word has no connection with German (the nation), but comes from the Latin germanus (of the same germ or stock). First cousins have a grandfather or grandmother in common.

“Those that are germaine to him, though removed fifty times, shall all come under the hangman.” — Shakespeare: Winter's Tale, iv. 3.

German

Jehan de Maire says, “Germany is so called from Caesar's sister Germana, wife of Salvius Brabon.” Geoffrey of Monmouth says that Ebrancus, a mythological descendant of Brute, King of Britain, had twenty sons and thirty daughters. All the sons, except the eldest, settled in Germany, which was therefore, called the land of the Germans or brothers. (See above.)

“[Ebrank.] An happy man in his first days he was,

And happy father of fair progeny;

For all so many weeks as the year has

So many children he did multiply!

Of which were twenty sons, which did apply Their minds to praise and chivalrous desire. These germans did subdue all Germany,

Of whom it hight ...”

Spenser: Faërie Queene, ii. 10.

Probably the name is Ger—man, meaning “warman.” The Germans call themselves Deutech—en, which is the same as Teut—on, with the initial letter flattened into D, and “Teut” means a multitude. The Romans called the people Germans at least 200 years before the Christian era, for in 1547 a tablet (dated B.C. 222) was discovered, recording the victories of the Consul Marcellus over Veridomar, “General of the Gauls and Germans.”

Father of German literature. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. (1729—1781.)

German Comb

The four fingers and thumb. “Se pygnoit du pygne d' Almaing" (Rabelais), He combed his hair with his fingers. Oudin, in his Dictionnaire, explains pygne d' Aleman by “los dedos et la dita. ” The Germans were the last to adopt periwigs, and while the French were never seen without a comb in one hand, the Germans adjusted their hair by running their fingers through it.

“He apparelled himself according to the season, and afterwards combed his head with an Alman comb.” — Rabelais: Gargantua and Pantagruel, book i. 21.

German Silver

is not silver at all, but white copper, or copper, zinc, and nickel mixed together. It was first made in Europe at Hildberg—hausen, in Germany, but had been used by the Chinese time out of mind.

Gerrymander

(g hard). So to divide a county or nation into representative districts as to give one special political party undue advantage over others. The word is derived from Elbridge Gerry, who adopted the scheme in Massachusetts when he was governor. Gilbert Stuart, the artist, looking at the map of the new distribution, with a little invention converted it into a salamander. “No, no!” said Russell, when shown it, “not a Sala—mander, Stuart; call it a Gerry—mander.”

To gerrymander is so to hocuspocus figures, etc., as to affect the balance.

Gerst—Monat

Barley—month. The Anglo—Saxon name for September; so called because it was the time of barley—beer making.

Gertrude (2 syl., g hard). Hamlet's mother, who married Claudius, the murderer of her late husband. She inadvertently poisoned herself by drinking a potion prepared for her son. (Shakespeare: Hamlet.)

Gertrude

(St.), in Christian art, is sometimes represented as surrounded with rats and mice; and sometimes as spinning, the rats and mice running about her distaff.

Gertrude of Wyoming

The name of one of Campbell's poems.

Gervais

(St.). The French St. Swithin, June 19th. (See Swithin.) In 1725, Bulliot, a French banker, made a bet that, as it rained on St. Gervais's Day, it would rain more or less for forty days afterwards. The bet was taken by so many people that the entire property of Bulliot was pledged. The bet was lost, and the banker was utterly ruined.

Geryon

(g hard). A human monster with three bodies and three heads, whose oxen ate human flesh, and were guarded by a two—headed dog. Hercules slew both Geryon and the dog. This fable means simply that Geryon reigned over three kingdoms, and was defended by an ally, who was at the head of two tribes.

Geryoneo

A giant with three bodies; that is, Philip II. of Spain, master of three kingdoms. (Spenser: Faëric Queene, v. 11.)

Gesmas

(g hard). (See Desmas.)

Gessler

(g hard). The Austrian governor of the three Forest Cantons of Switzerland. A man of most brutal nature and tyrannical disposition. He attempted to carry off the daughter of Leuthold, a Swiss herdsman; but Leuthold slew the ruffian sent to seize her, and fled. This act of injustice roused the people to rebellion, and Gessler, having put to death Melchtal, the patriarch of the Forest Cantons, insulted the people by commanding them to bow down to his cap, hoisted on a high pole. Tell refusing so to do, was arrested with his son, and Gessler, in the refinement of cruelty, imposed on him the task of shooting with his bow and arrow an apple from the head of his own son. Tell succeeded in this dangerous skill—trial, but in his agitation dropped an arrow from his robe. The governor insolently demanded what the second arrow was for, and Tell fearlessly replied, “To shoot you with, had I failed in the task imposed upon me.” Gessler now ordered him to be carried in chains across the lake, and cast into Kusnacht castle, a prey “to the reptiles that lodged there.” He was, however, rescued by the peasantry, and, having shot Gessler, freed his country from the Austrian yoke.

Gesta Romanorum

(g soft), compiled by Pierre Bercheur, prior of the Benedictine convent of St. Eloi, Paris, published by the Roxburgh Society. Edited by Sir F. Madden, and afterwards by S. J. Herrtage.

Geste

or Gest (g soft). A story, romance, achievement. From the Latin gesta (exploits).

“The scene of these gestes being laid in ordinary life.” — Cyclopædia Britan. (Romance).

Get

(To). To gain; to procure; to obtain.

“Get wealth and place, if possible with grace:

If not, by any means get wealth and place.”

Horace (Satires says: — “Rem facis, recte si possis; si non, rem facis.”

Get, Got

(Anglo—Saxon, git—an.)

“I got on horseback within ten minutes after I got your letter. When I got to Canterbury I got a chaise for town; but I got wet through, and have got such a cold that I shall not get rid of in a hurry. I got to the Treasury about noon, but first of all got shaved and dressed. I soon got into the secret of getting a memorial before the Board, but I could not get an answer then; however, I got intelligence from a messenger that I should get one next morning. As soon as I got back to my inn, I got my supper, and then got to bed. When I got up next morning, I got my breakfast, and, having got dressed, I got out in time to get an answer to my memorial. As soon as I got it, I got into a chaise, and got back to Canterbury by three, and got home for tea. I have got nothing for you, and so adieu.” — Dr. Withers.

Get by Heart

(To). To commit to memory. In French, “Apprendre une chose par cœur. “

Get One's Back Up

(To). To show irritation, as cats set up their backs when angry.

Get—up

(A). A style of dress, as “His get—up was excellent,” meaning his style of dress exactly suited the part he professed to enact.

Get up

(To).

To rise from one's bed.

To learn, as “I must get up my Euclid.”

To organise and arrange, as “We will get up a bazaar.”

Gethsemane

The Orchis maculata, supposed in legendary story to be spotted by the blood of Christ.

Gewgaw

(g hard). A showy trifle. (Saxon, ge—gaf, a trifle; French, joujou, a toy.)

Ghebers

or Guebres. The original natives of Iran (Persia), who adhered to the religion of Zoroaster, and (after the conquest of their country by the Arabs) became waifs and outlaws. The term is now applied to fire—worshippers generally. Hanway says that the ancient Ghebers wore a cushee or belt, which they never laid aside.

Ghibelline

(g hard), or rather Waiblingen. The war—cry of Conrad's followers in the battle of Weinsberg (1140). Conrad, Duke of Suabia, was opposed to Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, whose slogan was Guelph or Welfe, his family name.

Ghost

To give up the ghost. To die. The idea is that life is independent of the body, and is due to the habitation of the ghost or spirit in the material body. At death the ghost or spirit leaves this tabernacle of clay, and either returns to God or abides in the region of spirits till the general resurrection. Thus in Ecc. xii. 7 it is said, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

“Man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” — Job xiv. 10.

The ghost of a chance. The least likelihood. “He has not the ghost of a chance of being elected,” not the shadow of a probability.

Ghoul

(See Fairy .)

Giaffir

(Djaf—fir). Pacha of Abydos, and father of Zuleika. He tells her he intends to marry her to Kara Osman Ogloo, governor of Magnesia; but Zuleika has betrothed herself to her cousin Selim. The lovers flee, Giaffir shoots Selim, Zuleika dies of grief, and the pacha lives on, a heart—broken old man, ever calling to the winds, “Where is my daughter?” and echo answers, “Where?” (Byron: Bride of Abydos. )

Giall

The infernal river of Scandinavian mythology.

Giallar Bridge

The bridge of death, over which all must pass to get to Helheim. (Scandinavian mythology.)

Giallar Horn

(The). Heimdall's horn, which went out into all worlds whenever he chose to blow it. (Scandinavian mythology.)

Gian ben Gian

(g soft). King of the Ginns or Genii, and founder of the Pyramids. He was overthrown by Azazil or Lucifer. (Arab superstitions.)

Giant of Literature

(The). Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709—1783). Also called “the great moralist.”

Giants

(g soft). (1) Of Greek mythology, sons of Tartaros and Ge. When they attempted to storm heaven, they were hurled to earth by the aid of Hercules, and buried under Mount Etna.

(2) Of Scandinavian mythology, were evil genii, dwelling in Jötunheim (giantland), who had the power of reducing or extending their stature at will.

(3) Of nursery mythology, are cannibals of vast stature and immense muscular power, but as stupid as they are violent and treacherous. The best known are Blunderbore (q.v.), Cormoran (q.v.), Galliantus (q.v.), Gombo (q.v.), Megadore and Bellygan.

(4) In the romance of Gargantua and Pantagruel, by Rabelais, giants mean princes.

(5) Giants of Mythology.

ACAMAS. One of the Cyclops. (Greek fable.)

ADAMASTOR (q.v.).

ÆGÆON, the hundred—handed. One of the Titans. (Greek fable.) AGRIOS. One of the Titans. He was killed by the Parcæ. (Greek fable. ) ALCYONEUS [Al—si—o—nuce], or ALCION. Jupiter sent Hercules against him for stealing some of the Sun's oxen. But Hercules could not do anything, for immediately the giant touched the earth he received fresh strength. (See below, Antæos.) At length Pallas carried him beyond the moon. His seven daughters were metamorphosed into halcyons. (Argonautic Expedition, i. 6.)

ALGEBAR. The giant Orion is so called by the Arabs.

ALIFANFARON or ALIPHARNON (q.v.).

ALOEOS. Son of Poseidon Canace. Each of his two sons was 27 cubits high. (Greek fable.) AMERANT. A cruel giant slain by Guy of Warwick. (Percy: Reliques.)

ANGOULAFFRE (q.v.). (See below, 21 feet.)

ANTÆOS (q.v.; see above, Alcyoneus). (See below, 105 feet.) ARGES (2 syl.). One of the Cyclops. (Greek fable.)

ASCAPART (q.v.).

ATLAS (q.v.).

BALAN (q.v.).

BELLE (1 syl.) (q.v.).

BELLERUS (q.v.).

BLUNDERBORE (3 syl.). (q.v.).

BRIAREOS or BRIAREUS (3 syl.) (q.v.).

BROBDINGNAG (q.v.).

BRONTES (2 syl.) (q.v.).

BURLOND (q.v.).

CACOS or CACUS (q.v.).

CALIGORANT (q.v.).

CARACULIAMBO. The giant that Don Quixote intended should kneel at the feet of Dulcinea. (Cervantes: Don Quixote.)

CARUS. In the Seven Champions.

CHALBROTH. The stem of all the giant race. (Rabelais: Pantagruel ). CHRISTOPHERUS. (See Christopher, St.)

CLYTIOS (q.v.).

CŒOS. Son of Heaven and Earth. He married Phœbe, and was the father of Latona. (Greek fable.) COLBRAND. (See Colbronde.)

CORFLAMBO (q.v.).

CORMORAN (q.v.)

CORMORANT. A giant discomfited by Sir Brian. (Spenser: Faërie Queene, vi. 4.) COTTAS (q.v.).

COULIN (q.v.).

CYCLOPS (The (q.v.).

DESPAIR (q.v.).

DONDASCH (q.v.).

ENCELADOS (q.v.).

EPHLALTES (4 syl.) (q.v.).

ERIX (q.v.).

EURYTOS. One of the giants that made war with the gods. Bacchus killed him with his thyrsus. (Greek fable.) FERREGUS, slain by Orgando, was 28 feet in height.

FERRACUTE (3 syl.) (q.v.).

FIERABRAS [Fe—a—ra—brah] (q.v.).

FION (q.v.).

FIORGWYN, the father of Frigga (Scandinavian mythology).

FRACASSUS (q.v.).

GALBARA. Father of Goliah of Secondille (3 syl.), and inventor of the custom of drinking healths. (Duchat: Œuvres de Rabelais. 1511.)

GALAPAS. The giant slain by King Arthur. (Sir T. Malory: History of Price Arthur.) GALLIGANTUS (q.v.).

GARAGANTUA (q.v.).

GARGANTUA (q.v.).

GARLAN. In the Seven Champions.

GEMMAGOG (q.v.).

GERYONEO (q.v.).

GIRALDA (q.v.).

GODMER (q.v.).

GORMOT or GOEMAGOT (q.v.).

GOGMAGOG. King of the giant race of Albion; slain by Corineus. GRANGOUSIER. The giant king of Utopia, father of Gargantua. (Rabelais: Gargantua.) GRANTORTO (q.v.).

GRIM (q.v.).

GRUMBO (q.v.).

GUY OF WARWICK (q.v.).

GYGES (2 syl.). One of the Titans. He had fifty heads and a hundred hands. (Greek fable.) HAPMOUCHE (2 syl.) (q.v.).

HIPPOLYTOS. One of the giants who made war with the gods. He was killed by Hermês. (Greek fable.) HRASVELG (q.v.).

HRIMTHURSAR (q.v.).

HURTALI (q.v.).

INDRACITTRAN (q.v.).

IRUS (q.v.).

JOTUN. The giant of Jötunheim or Giant—land. (Scandinavian mythology.) JULIANCE. A giant of Arthurian romance.

JUNNER (q.v.).

KIFRI. The giant of atheism and infidelity.

KOTTOS. One of the Titans. He had a hundred hands. (See Briareos.) (Greek fable.) MALAMBRUNO (q.v.).

MARGUTTE (q.v.).

MAUGYS (q.v.)

MAUL (q.v.).

MONT—ROGNON (q.v.).

MORGANTE (3 syl.) (q.v.).

MUGILLO. —A giant famous for his mace with six balls. OFFERUS (q.v.).

OGLAS (q.v.).

ORGOGLIO (q.v.).

ORION (q.v.. (See below, 80 ½ feet.)

OTOS (q.v.).

PALLAS (q.v.).

PANTAGRUEL (q.v.).

PHIDON. In the Seven Champions.

POLYBOTES (4 syl.) (q.v.).

POLYPHEMUS or POLYPHEME (3 syl.) (q.v.).

PORPHYRION (q.v.).

PYRACMON. One of the Cyclops. (Greek fable.)

RAPHSARUS. In the Seven Champions.

RITHO (q.v.).

RITHO. The giant who commanded King Arthur to send him his beard to complete the lining of a robe. In the Arthurian romance.

SKRYMIR. (See Draught of Thor, p. 380.)

SLAY—GOOD (q.v.).

STEROPES (3 syl.). One of the Cyclops. (Greek fable.)

TARTARO. The Cyclops of Basque mythology.

TEUTOBOCHUS (King. (See below, 30 feet.)

THAON. One of the giants who made war with the gods. He was killed by the Parcæ. (Greek fable.) TITANS (The) (q.v.).

TITYOS (q.v.).

TREYEAGLE (q.v.).

TYPHŒUS (q.v.).

TYPHON (q.v.).

WIDENOSTRILS (q.v.).

YOHAK. The giant guardian of the caves of Babylon. (Southey: Thalaba, book v.)

Of these giants the following are note—worthy: 19 feet in height: A skeleton discovered at Lucerne in 1577. Dr. Plater is our authority for this measurement. 21 feet in height: Angoulaffre of the Broken Teeth, was 12 cubits in height. (A cubit was 21 inches.)

30 feet in height: Teutobochus, whose remains were discovered near the Rhone in 1613. They occupied a tomb 30 feet long. The bones of another gigantic skeleton were exposed by the action of the Rhone in 1456. If this was a human skeleton, the height of the living man must have been 30 feet.

80 ½ feet in height: Orion, according to Pliny, was 46 cubits in height.

105 feet in height: Antæos is said by Plutarch to have been 60 cubits in height. He furthermore adds that the grave of the giant was opened by Serbonios.

300 feet in height: The “monster Polypheme.” It is said that his skeleton was discovered at Trapani, in Sicily, in the fourteenth century. If this skeleton was that of a man, he must have been 300 feet in height.

(6) Giants of Real Life.

ANAK (of Bible history), father of the Anakim. The Hebrew spies said they were mere grasshoppers in comparison with these giants (Joshua xv. 14; Judges i. 20; and Numbers xiii. 33.)

·

ANAK. (See Brice.)

·

ANDRONI'CUS II. was 10 feet in height. He was grandson of Alexius Comnenus. Nicetas asserts that he had seen him.

BAMFORD (Edward) was 7 feet 4 inches. He died in 1768, and was buried in St. Dunstan's churchyard.

BATES (Captain) was 7 feet 11 1/2 inches. He was a native of Kentucky, and was exhibited in London in 1871. His wife (Anna Swann) was the same height.

BLACKER (Henry) was 7 feet 4 inches, and most symmetrical. He was born at Cuckfield, in Sussex, in 1724, and was called “The British Giant.”

BRADLEY (William) was 7 feet 9 inches in height. He was born in 1787, and died 1820. His birth is duly registered in the parish church of Market Weighton, in Yorkshire, and his right hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons.

BRICE (M. J.) exhibited under the name of Anak, was 7 feet 8 inches in height at the age of 26. He was born in 1840 at Ramonchamp, in the Vosges, and visited England 1862—5. His arms had a stretch of 95 1/2 inches, and were therefore 3 1/2 inches too long for symmetry.

BRUSTED (Von) was 8 feet in height. This Norway giant was exhibited in London in 1880.

BUSBY (John) was 7 feet 9 inches in height, and his brother was about the same. They were natives of Darfield, in Yorkshire.

CHANG, the Chinese giant, was 8 feet 2 inches in height. The entire name of this Chinese giant was Chang—Woo—Goo. He was exhibited in London in 1865—1866, and again in 1880. He was a native of Fychou.

CHARLEMAGNE was nearly 8 feet in height, and was so strong he could squeeze together three horseshoes with his hands.

COTTER (Patrick) was 8 feet 7 1/2 inches in height. This Irish giant died at Clifton, Bristol, in 1802. A cast of his hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons.

DANIEL, the porter of Oliver Cromwell, was a man of gigantic stature.

ELEA'ZER was 7 cubits (nearly 14 feet). Vitellius sent this giant to Rome; and he is mentioned by Josephus. N.B. — The height of Goliath was 6 cubits and a span.

Nothing can be a greater proof that the cubit was not 21 inches, for no recorded height of any giant known has reached 10 feet. The nearest approach to it was Gabara, the Arabian giant (9 feet 9 inches) mentioned by Pliny, and Middleton of Lancashire (9 feet 3 inches) mentioned by Dr. Plott. Probably a cubit was about 18 inches.

ELEIZEGUE (Joachim). Was 7 feet 10 inches in height. He was a Spaniard, and exhibited in the Cosmorama, Regent Street, London.

EVANS (William) was 8 feet at death. He was a porter of Charles I., and died in 1632.

FRANK (Big). Was 7 feet 8 inches in height. He was an Irishman whose name was Francis Sheridan, and died in 1870.

FRENZ (Louis) was 7 feet 4 inches in height. He was called “the French giant.”

FUNNUM (court giant of Eugene II.) was 11 feet 6 inches.

GABARA, the Arabian giant, was 9 feet 9 inches. This Arabian giant is mentioned by Pliny, who says he was the tallest man seen in the days of Claudius.

GILLY was 8 feet. This Swedish giant was exhibited in the early part of the nineteenth century.

GOLI'ATH was 6 cubits and a span (11 feet 9 inches, if the cubit = 21 inches, and the span = 9 inches).

See note to the giant ELEAZER. If the cubit was 18 inches, then Goliath was the same height as the Arabian giant Gabara.

GORDON (Alíce) was 7 feet in height. She was a native of Essex, and died in 1737, at the age of 19.

HALE (Robert) was 7 feet 6 inches in height. He was born at Somerton, in Norfolk, and was called “the Norfolk giant” (1820—1862).

HAR'DRADA (Harold) was nearly 8 feet in height (“5 ells of Norway"), and was called “the Norway giant.” Snorro Sturleson says he was “about 8 feet in height.”

HOLMES (Benjamin) was 7 feet 6 inches in height. He was a Northumberland man, and was made sword—bearer of the Corporation of Worcester. He died in 1892.

JOHN FREDERICK, Duke of Brunswick, was 8 feet 6 inches in height.

KINTOLOCHUS REX was 15 feet 6 inches in height (!), 5 feet through the chest to the spine (1), and 10 feet across the shoulders (1). This, of course, is quite incredible.

LA PIERRE was 7 feet 1 inch in height. He was born at Stratgard, in Denmark.

LOUIS was 7 feet 4 inches in height. Called “the French giant.” His left hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons.

LOUISHKIN was 8 feet 5 inches in height. This Russian giant was drum—major of the Imperial Guards.

MCDONALD (James) was 7 feet 6 inches in height. He was born in Cork, Ireland, and died in 1760.

MCDONALD (Samuel) was 6 feet 10 inches in height. This Scotchman was usually called “Big Sam.” He was the Prince of Wales's footman, and died in 1802.

MAGRATH (Cornelius) was 7 feet 10 inches in height at the age of 16. He was an orphan reared by Bishop Berkeley, and died at the age of twenty (1740—1760).

MELLON (Edmund) was 7 feet 6 inches in height at the age of nineteen. He was born at Port Leicester, in Ireland (1740—1760).

MIDDLETON (John) was 9 feet 3 inches in height. “His hand was 17 inches long and 8 1/2 broad.” He was born at Hale, Lancashire, in the reign of James I. (See above, Gabara.) (Dr. Plott: Natural History of Staffordshire, p. 295.)

MILLER (Maximilian Christopher) was 8 feet in height. His hand measured 12 inches, and his forefinger was 9 inches long. This Saxon giant died in London at the age of sixty (1674—1734).

MURPHY was 8 feet 10 inches in height. This Irish giant was contemporary with O'Brien (see below), and died at Marseilles.

O'BRIEN, or CHARLES BYRNE, was 8 feet 4 inches in height. The skeleton of this Irish giant is preserved in the College of Surgeons. He died in Cockspur Street, London, and was contemporary with Murphy (1761—1783).

MAXIMI'NUS was 8 feet 6 inches in height. The Roman emperor, from 235 to 238.

O'BRIEN (Patrick) was 8 feet 7 inches in height. He died August 3, 1804, aged thirty—nine.

OG, King of Bashan. According to tradition, he lived 3,000 years, and walked beside the Ark during the Flood. One of his bones formed a bridge over a river. His bed (Deuteronomy iii. 11) was 9 cubits by 4 cubits.

If the cubit was really 21 inches, this would make the bed 15 3/4 feet by 10 1/2. The great bed of Ware, Herts, is 12 feet by 12. (See above, Eleazar — note.)

OSEN (Heinrich) was 7 feet 6 inches in height at the age of 27, and weighed above 37 stone. He was born in Norway. (See above, Hardrada.)

PORUS was “5 cubits in height” (7 feet 6 inches). He was an Indian king who fought against Alexander the Great near the river Hydaspes. (Quintus Curtius: De rebus gestis Alexandri Magni.)

Whatever the Jewish cubit was, the Roman cubit was not more than 18 inches.

RIECHART (J. H.) was 8 feet 4 inches in height. He was a native of Friedberg, and both his father and mother were of gigantic stature.

SALMERON (Martin) was 7 feet 4 inches in height. He was called “The Mexican Giant.”

Giant's Causeway

in Ireland. A basaltic mole, said to be the commencement of a road to be constructed by the giants across the channel, reaching from Ireland to Scotland.

Giants' Dance

(The). Stonehenge, which Geoffrey of Monmouth says was removed from Killaraus, a mountain in Ireland, by the magical skill of Merlin.

“If you [Aurelius] are desirous to honour the burying—place of these men [who routed Hengist] with an everlasting monument, send for the Giants' Dance, which is in Killaraus, a mountain in Ireland.” — Geoffrey of Monmouth: British History, book viii. chap. 10.

Giant's Leap

(The). Lam—Goemagog. The legend is that Corineus (3 syl.), in his encounter with Goemagog, or Gomagog, slung him on his shoulders, carried him to the top of a neighbouring cliff, and heaved him into the sea. Ever since then the cliff has been called Lam—Goemagog. (Thomas Boreman: Gigantick History; 1741.)

SHERIDAN. (See above, Frank.)

SWANN (Anne Hanen) was 7 feet 11 1/2 inches in height. She was a native of Nova Scotia.

TOLLER (James) was 8 feet at the age of 24. He died in February, 1819.

Becanus asserts that he had seen a man nearly 10 feet high, and a woman fully 10 feet.

Gasper Bauhin speaks of a Swiss 8 feet in height.

Del Rio tells us he himself saw a Piedmontese in 1572 more than 9 feet in height.

C. F. S. Warren, M.A. (in Notes and Queries, August 14th, 1875), tells us that his father knew a lady 9 feet in height, and adds “her head touched the ceiling of a good—sized room.”

Vanderbrook says he saw at Congo a black man 9 feet high.

In the museum of Trinity College, Dublin, is a human skeleton 8 feet 6 inches in height.

Thomas Hall, of Willingham, was 3 feet 9 inches at the age of 3.

A giant was exhibited at Rouen in the early part of the eighteenth century 17 feet 10 inches (!) in height.

Gorapus, the surgeon, tells us of a Swedish giantess, who, at the age of 9, was over 10 feet in height.

Turner, the naturalist, tells us he saw in Brazil a giant 12 feet in height.

M. Thevet published, in 1575, an account of a South American giant, the skeleton of which he measured. It was 11 feet 5 inches.

SAM (Big). (See Mac Donald.)

Josephus speaks of a Jew 10 feet 2 inches.

Giants' War with Jove

(The). The War of the Giants and the War of the Titans should be kept distinct. The latter was after Jove or Zeus was god of heaven and earth, the former was before that time. Kronos, a Titan, had been exalted by his brothers to the supremacy, but Zeus made war on Kronos with the view of dethroning him. After ten years' contest he succeeded, and hurled the Titans into hell. The other war was a revolt by the giants against Zeus, which was readily put down by the help of the other gods and the aid of Hercules.

Giaour

(jow'—er). An unbeliever, one who disbelieves the Mahometan faith. A corruption of the Arabic Kiafir. It has now become so common that it scarcely implies insult, but has about the force of the word “Gentile,” meaning “not a Jew.” Byron has a poetical tale so called, but he has not given the giaour a name.

“The city won for Allah from the Giaour,

The Giaour from Othman's race again may wrest.”

Byron: Childe Harold, canto ii. stanza 77.

Gib

(g soft). The cut of his gib. (See Jib.)

To hang one's gib. To be angry, to pout. The lower lip of a horse is called its gib, and so is the beak of a male salmon.

Gib Cat

A tom—cat. The male cat used to be called Gilbert. Nares says that Tibert or Tybalt is the French form of Gilbert, and hence Chaucer in his Romance of the Rose, renders “Thibert le Cas” by “Gibbe, our Cat"

(v. 6204). Generally used for a castrated cat. (See Tybalt.)

“I am as melancholy as a gib cat or a lugged bear.” — Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV., i. 2.

Gibberish

(g hard). Geber, the Arabian, was by far the greatest alchemist of the eleventh century, and wrote several treatises on “the art of making gold” in the usual mystical jargon, because the ecclesiastics would have put to death any one who had openly written on the subject. Friar Bacon, in 1282, furnishes a specimen of this gibberish. He is giving the prescription for making