3. Very precious; highly valuable; excellent; eminently auspicious; as,
golden opinions.
Golden age. (a) The fabulous age of primeval simplicity and purity of
manners in rural employments, followed by the silver, bronze, and iron
ages. Dryden. (b) (Roman Literature) The best part (B. C. 81 -- A. D.
14) of the classical period of Latinity; the time when Cicero, CÊsar,
Virgil, etc., wrote. Hence: (c) That period in the history of a
literature, etc., when it flourishes in its greatest purity or attains
its greatest glory; as, the Elizabethan age has been considered the
golden age of English literature. -- Golden balls, three gilt balls
used as a sign of a pawnbroker's office or shop; -- originally taken
from the coat of arms of Lombardy, the first money lenders in London
having been Lombards. -- Golden bull. See under Bull, an edict. --
Golden chain (Bot.), the shrub Cytisus Laburnum, so named from its long
clusters of yellow blossoms. -- Golden club (Bot.), an aquatic plant
(Orontium aquaticum), bearing a thick spike of minute yellow flowers.
-- Golden cup (Bot.), the buttercup. -- Golden eagle (Zoˆl.), a large
and powerful eagle (Aquila ChrysaÎtos) inhabiting Europe, Asia, and
North America. It is so called from the brownish yellow tips of the
feathers on the head and neck. A dark variety is called the royal
eagle; the young in the second year is the ring-tailed eagle. -- Golden
fleece. (a) (Mythol.) The fleece of gold fabled to have been taken from
the ram that bore Phryxus through the air to Colchis, and in quest of
which Jason undertook the Argonautic expedition. (b) (Her.) An order of
knighthood instituted in 1429 by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy; - -
called also Toison d'Or. -- Golden grease, a bribe; a fee. [Slang] --
Golden hair (Bot.), a South African shrubby composite plant with golden
yellow flowers, the Chrysocoma Coma- aurea. -- Golden Horde (Hist.), a
tribe of Mongolian Tartars who overran and settled in Southern Russia
early in the 18th century. -- Golden Legend, a hagiology (the "Aurea
Legenda") written by James de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa, in the
13th century, translated and printed by Caxton in 1483, and partially
paraphrased by Longfellow in a poem thus entitled. -- Golden marcasite
tin. [Obs.] -- Golden mean, the way of wisdom and safety between
extremes; sufficiency without excess; moderation.
Angels guard him in the golden mean.
Pope.
-- Golden mole (Zoˆl), one of several South African Insectivora of the
family ChrysochloridÊ, resembling moles in form and habits. The fur is
tinted with green, purple, and gold. -- Golden number (Chronol.), a
number showing the year of the lunar or Metonic cycle. It is reckoned
from 1 to 19, and is so called from having formerly been written in the
calendar in gold. -- Golden oriole. (Zoˆl.) See Oriole. -- Golden
pheasant. See under Pheasant. -- Golden pippin, a kind of apple, of a
bright yellow color. -- Golden plover (Zoˆl.), one of several species
of plovers, of the genus Charadrius, esp. the European (C. apricarius,
or pluvialis; -- called also yellow, black-breasted, hill, ∧
whistling, plover. The common American species (C. dominicus) is also
called frostbird, and bullhead. -- Golden robin. (Zoˆl.) See Baltimore
oriole, in Vocab. -- Golden rose (R. C. Ch.), a gold or gilded rose
blessed by the pope on the fourth Sunday in Lent, and sent to some
church or person in recognition of special services rendered to the
Holy See. -- Golden rule. (a) The rule of doing as we would have others
do to us. Cf. Luke vi. 31. (b) The rule of proportion, or rule of
three. -- Golden samphire (Bot.), a composite plant (Inula
crithmoides), found on the seashore of Europe. -- Golden saxifrage
(Bot.), a low herb with yellow flowers (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium),
blossoming in wet places in early spring. - - Golden seal (Bot.), a
perennial ranunculaceous herb (Hydrastis Canadensis), with a thick
knotted rootstock and large rounded leaves. -- Golden sulphide, or
sulphuret, of antimony (Chem.), the pentasulphide of antimony, a golden
or orange yellow powder. -- Golden warbler (Zoˆl.), a common American
wood warbler (Dendroica Êstiva); -- called also blue-eyed yellow
warbler, garden warbler, and summer yellow bird. -- Golden wasp
(Zoˆl.), a bright- colored hymenopterous insect, of the family
ChrysididÊ. The colors are golden, blue, and green. -- Golden wedding.
See under Wedding.
Gold"en-eye` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A duck (Glaucionetta clangula), found in
Northern Europe, Asia, and America. The American variety (var.
Americana) is larger. Called whistler, garrot, gowdy, pied widgeon,
whiteside, curre, and doucker. Barrow's golden-eye of America (G.
Islandica) is less common.
God"en*ly, adv. In golden terms or a golden manner; splendidly;
delightfully. [Obs.] Shak.
Gold"en-rod` (?), n. (Bot.) A tall herb (Solidago Virga-aurea), bearing
yellow flowers in a graceful elongated cluster. The name is common to
all the species of the genus Solidago.
Golden-rod tree (Bot.), a shrub (Bosea Yervamora), a native of the
Canary Isles.
Gold"finch` (?), n. [AS. goldfinc. See Gold, and Finch.] (Zoˆl.) (a) A
beautiful bright- colored European finch (Carduelis elegans). The name
refers to the large patch of yellow on the wings. The front of the head
and throat are bright red; the nape, with part of the wings and tail,
black; -- called also goldspink, goldie, fool's coat, drawbird,
draw-water, thistle finch, and sweet William. (b) The yellow- hammer.
(c) A small American finch (Spinus tristis); the thistle bird.
The name is also applied to other yellow finches, esp. to several
additional American species of Spinus.
Gold"fin`ny (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of two or more species of European
labroid fishes (Crenilabrus melops, and Ctenolabrus rupestris); --
called also goldsinny, and goldney.
Gold"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) A small domesticated cyprinoid fish
(Carassius auratus); -- so named from its color. It is a native of
China, and is said to have been introduced into Europe in 1691. It is
often kept as an ornament, in small ponds or glass globes. Many
varieties are known. Called also golden fish, and golden carp. See
Telescope fish, under Telescope. (b) A California marine fish of an
orange or red color; the garibaldi.
Gold"-ham`mer (?), n. The yellow- hammer.
Gold"ie (?), n. [From Gold.] (Zoˆl.) (a) The European goldfinch. (b)
The yellow- hammer.
Gold"i*locks` (?), n. Same as Goldylocks.
{ Gold"in (?), Gold"ing (?), } n. (Bot.) [From the golden color of the
blossoms.] A conspicuous yellow flower, commonly the corn marigold
(Chrysanthemum segetum). [This word is variously corrupted into
gouland, gools, gowan, etc.]
Gold"less (?), a. Destitute of gold.
Gold"ney (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Gilthead.
Gold"seed` (?), n. (Bot.) Dog's-tail grass.
Gold"sin`ny (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Goldfinny.
Gold"smith` (?), n. [AS. goldsmi&?;. See Gold., and Smith.] 1. An
artisan who manufactures vessels and ornaments, etc., of gold.