Verb (Cambridge Univ.).—To place in the gulf, subs., sense 2 (q.v.); to
be gulfed = to be on such a list. [Men so placed were not eligible for
the Classical Tripos]. Cf., Pluck and Plough.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, pt. iii., p. 89. I am not going to
let them gulph me a second time.
1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, p. 123. The good Professor
scolded, predicted that they would all be either gulfed or
ploughed.
1865. Sporting Gaz., 1 Apr. A man who was gulfed for mathematical
honours was certainly, in olden time, unable to enter for the
classical examination; but though the arrangement is altered, the
term is not obsolete. A man who is gulfed is considered to know
enough mathematics for an ordinary degree, but not enough to be
allowed his degree in mathematics only; he is consequently obliged
to pass in all the ordinary subjects (except mathematics) for the
‘poll,’ before taking his degree.
1876. Trevelyan, Life of Macaulay (1884), ch. ii., p. 61. When the
Tripos of 1822 made its appearance, his name did not grace the
list. In short ... Macaulay was gulfed.
1852. Bristed, Five Years in an English University, p. 297. I
discovered that my name was nowhere to be found—that I was gulfed.
Gulf-spin, subs. (American cadet).—A rascal; a worthless fellow; a beat
(q.v.) a shyster (q.v.).
Gull, subs. (old, now recognised).—1. A ninny. For synonyms, see Buffle
and Cabbage-head.
1596. Sir J. Davies, Book of Epigrams. A gull is he who feares a
velvet gowne, And when a wench is brave dares not speak to her; A
gull is he which traverseth the towne, And is for marriage known a
common wooer; A gull is he, which while he proudly weares A
silver-hilted rapier by his side. Indures the lye and knockes about
the eares, While in his sheath his sleeping sword doth bide. But to
define a gull in termes precise—A gull is he which seems, and is
not, wise.
1598. Florio, A World of Wordes, passim.
1609. Jonson, Case is Altered, iv., 3. Jun. Tut, thou art a goose
to be Cupid’s gull.
1609. Shakspeare, Timon of Athens. Lord Timon will be left a naked
gull. Which flashes now a phœnix.
1614. Overbury, Characters. ‘A Roaring Boy.’ He cheats young guls
that are newly come to town.
1618. Rowlands, Night Raven, p. 28 (H. C. Rept., 1872). I know the
houses where base cheaters vse, And note what gulls (to worke vpon)
they chuse.
1661. Brome, Poems, ‘The Cure of Care.’ Those gulls that by
scraping and toiling.
1818. S. E. Ferrier, Marriage, ch. li. The poor gull was caught,
and is now, I really believe, as much in love as it is in the
nature of a stupid man to be.
1850. D. Jerrold, The Catspaw, Act i. Pshaw! some rascal that lives
on simpletons and gulls.
1892. R. L. Stevenson and L. Osbourne, The Wrecker, p. 231. I was a
dweller under roofs; the gull of that which we call civilisation.