1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue eBook

Francis Grose
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 343 pages of information about 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue eBook

Francis Grose
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 343 pages of information about 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

GILFLURT.  A proud minks, a vain capricious woman,

Gill.  The abbreviation of Gillian, figuratively used for
  woman.  Every jack has his gill; i.e. every jack has his
  gillian, or female mate.

Gills.  The cheeks.  To look rosy about the gills; to have
  a fresh complexion.  To look merry about the gills:  to
  appear cheerful.

Gilly GAUPUS.  A Scotch term for a tall awkward
  fellow.

Gilt, or rum dubber.  A thief who picks locks, so called
  from the gilt or picklock key:  many of them are so
  expert, that, from the lock of a church door to that of
  the smallest cabinet, they will find means to open it;
  these go into reputable public houses, where, pretending
  business, they contrive to get into private rooms, up
  stairs, where they open any bureaus or trunks they happen
  to find there.

GIMBLET-eyed. Squinting, either in man or woman.

Gimcrack, or JIMCRACK.  A spruce wench; a gimcrack
  also means a person who has a turn for mechanical
  contrivances.

Gin Spinner.  A distiller.

GINGAMBOBS.  Toys, bawbles; also a man’s privities.  See
  THINGAMBOBS.

Ginger-pated, or ginger-hackled. Red haired:  a
  term borrowed from the cockpit, where red cocks are
  called gingers,

Gingerbread.  A cake made of treacle, flour, and grated
  ginger; also money.  He has the gingerbread; he is
  rich.

Gingerbread work.  Gilding and carving:  these terms
  are particularly applied by seamen on board Newcastle
  colliers, to the decorations of the sterns and quarters of
  West-Indiamen, which they have the greatest joy in defacing.

Gingerly.  Softly, gently, tenderly.  To go gingerly to
  work:  to attempt a thing gently, or cautiously.

Ginny.  An instrument to lift up a great, in order to steal
  what is in the window.  Cant.

Gip from gups a wolf.  A servant at college.

Girds.  Quips, taunts, severe or biting reflections.

Gizzard.  To grumble in the gizzard; to be secretly
  displeased.

Glass eyes.  A nick name for one wearing spectacles.

GLAYMORE.  A Highland broad-sword; from the Erse
 Glay, or glaive, a sword; and more, great.

Glaze.  A window.

Glazier.  One who breaks windows and shew-glasses, to
  steal goods exposed for sale.  Glaziers; eyes.  Cant.—­
  Is your father a glazier; a question asked of a lad or young
  man, who stands between the speaker and the candle, or
  fire.  If it is answered in the negative, the rejoinder is—­
  I wish he was, that he might make a window through
  your body, to enable us to see the fire or light.

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1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.