Gam"mon, v. t. [Etymol. unknown.] (Naut.) To fasten (a bowsprit) to the
stem of a vessel by lashings of rope or chain, or by a band of iron.
Totten.
Gam"mon*ing, n. [From 5th Gammon.] (Naut.) The lashing or iron band by
which the bowsprit of a vessel is secured to the stem to opposite the
lifting action of the forestays.
Gammoning fashion, in the style of gammoning lashing, that is, having
the turns of rope crossed. -- Gammoning hole (Naut.), a hole cut
through the knee of the head of a vessel for the purpose of gammoning
the bowsprit.
Gam"mon*ing, n. [From 4th Gammon.] The act of imposing upon or hoaxing
a person. [Colloq.]
||Gam`o*gen"e*sis (?), n. [Gr. &?; marriage + E. genesis.] (Biol.) The
||production of offspring by the union of parents of different sexes;
||sexual reproduction; -- the opposite of agamogenesis.
Gam`o*ge*net"ic (?), a. (Biol.) Relating to gamogenesis. --
Gam`o*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv.
Gam`o*mor"phism (?), n. [Gr. &?; marriage + &?; form, shape.] (Biol.)
That stage of growth or development in an organism, in which the
reproductive elements are generated and matured in preparation for
propagating the species.
Gam`o*pet"al*ous (?), a. [Gr. &?; marriage + E. petalous: cf. F.
gamopÈtale.] (Bot.) Having the petals united or joined so as to form a
tube or cup; monopetalous.
Ga*moph"yl*lous (?), a. [Gr. &?; marriage + &?; leaf.] (Bot.) Composed
of leaves united by their edges (coalescent). Gray.
Gam`o*sep"al*ous (?), a. [Gr. &?; marriage + E. sepal.] (Bot.) Formed
of united sepals; monosepalous.
Gam"ut (?), n. [F. gamme + ut the name of a musical note. F. gamme is
fr. the name of the Greek letter &?;, which was used by Guido d'Arezzo
to represent the first note of his model scale. See Gamma, and Ut.]
(Mus.) The scale.
Gam"y (?), a. 1. (Cookery) Having the flavor of game, esp. of game kept
uncooked till near the condition of tainting; high- flavored.
2. (Sporting) Showing an unyielding spirit to the last; plucky;
furnishing sport; as, a gamy trout.
Gan (?), imp. of Gin. [See Gin, v.] Began; commenced.
Gan was formerly used with the infinitive to form compound imperfects,
as did is now employed. Gan regularly denotes the singular; the plural
is usually denoted by gunne or gonne.
This man gan fall (i.e., fell) in great suspicion.
Chaucer.
The little coines to their play gunne hie (i. e., hied).
Chaucer.
Later writers use gan both for singular and plural.
Yet at her speech their rages gan relent.
Spenser.
Ganch (?), v. t. [Cf. F. ganche, n., also Sp. & Pg. gancho hook, It.
gancio.] To drop from a high place upon sharp stakes or hooks, as the
Turks dropped malefactors, by way of punishment.
Ganching, which is to let fall from on high upon hooks, and there
to hang until they die.
Sandys.
Gan"der (?), n. [AS. gandra, ganra, akin to Prov. G. gander, ganter,
and E. goose, gannet. See Goose.] The male of any species of goose.
Gane (?), v. i. [See Yawn.] To yawn; to gape. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ga*ne"sa (?), n. (Hind. Myth.) The Hindoo god of wisdom or prudence.
He is represented as a short, fat, red-colored man, with a large belly
and the head of an elephant. Balfour.
Gang (?), v. i. [AS. gangan, akin to OS. & OHG. gangan, Icel. ganga,
Goth. gaggan; cf. Lith. &?;engti to walk, Skr. ja&?;gha leg. √48.
Cf. Go.] To go; to walk.
Obsolete in English literature, but still used in the North of England,
and also in Scotland.
Gang, n. [Icel. gangr a going, gang, akin to AS., D., G., & Dan. gang a
going, Goth. gaggs street, way. See Gang, v. i.] 1. A going; a course.
[Obs.]
2. A number going in company; hence, a company, or a number of persons
associated for a particular purpose; a group of laborers under one
foreman; a squad; as, a gang of sailors; a chain gang; a gang of
thieves.
3. A combination of similar implements arranged so as, by acting
together, to save time or labor; a set; as, a gang of saws, or of
plows.