1881. New York Times, 18 Dec., quoted in ‘N and Q’ 6, S. v. 65. Go
Down.—A cutting in the bank of a stream for enabling animals to
cross or to get to water.
God-permit, subs. (old).—A stage coach. [Which was advertised to start
Deo volente.]
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. God-permit, a stage coach, from
that affectation of piety, frequently to be met with in
advertisements of stage coaches or waggons, where most of their
undertakings are promised with if God permit, or God willing.
1825. Modern Flash Dict., s.v.
God’s-mercy, subs. (old).—Ham (or bacon) and eggs. [‘There’s nothing in
the house but God’s mercy’: at one time a common answer in country inns
to travellers in quest of provant.]
God’s-penny, subs. (old).—An earnest penny.
1690. B. E., Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s.v. God’s Penny, Earnest
Money, to Bind a Bargain.
1765. Percy, Reliques, ‘The heir of Linne.’ Then John he did him to
record draw, And John he cast him a God’s pennie.
Go-easter, subs. (American cowboys’).—A portmanteau; a peter (q.v.).
[Because seldom used except in going city- or east-wards.]
Goer, subs. (old).—1. The foot. For synonyms, see Creepers.
1557–1634. Chapman, in Encyclop. Dict. A double mantle, cast
Athwart his shoulders, his faire goers grac’t With fitted shoes.
2. (colloquial).—An expert or adept; as in drawing, talking, riding;
one well up to his (or her) work: generally with an adjective, as e.g.,
a fast (or hell of a) goer = a good goer.
1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. xx. Nevertheless, she
was always deeply engaged, and generally to the best goers in the
room.
Goff. See Mrs. Goff.
Goggles, subs. (common).—1. A goggle-eyed person. Also Goggler.
1647. Beaumont and Fletcher, Knight of Malta, v., 2. Do you stare,
goggles?
1891. Clark Russell, Ocean Tragedy, p. 51. No use sending blind man
aloft, gogglers like myself, worse luck.
2. in. pl. (common).—The eyes: specifically those with a constrained or
rolling stare; also Goggle-eyes. Goggle-eyed = squint-eyed.
1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes, Strabo, he that looketh a squint
or is goggle-eide.
c. 1746. Robertson of Struan, Poems, 69. An eagle of a dwarfish
size, With crooked Beak, and gogle eyes.
1691–1763. Byrom, Dissection of a Beau’s Head. Those muscles, in
English, wherewith a man ogles, When on a fair lady he fixes his
goggles.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1821. Pierce Egan, Life in London, p. 241. Rolling your goggles
about after all manner of people.