1881. A. C. Grant, Bush Life in Queensland ... following up his
admonition by a sweeping cut of his gully-raker, and a report like
a musket-shot.
Gulpin, subs. (common).—A simpleton; a gapeseed (q.v.). Fr., un
gobemouche; une éponge. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
1886. W. Besant, World Went Very Well Then, ch. xxix. But Jack
persisted, and I rose too. ‘Go then!’ the Admiral roared, with a
great oath. ‘Go then, for a brace of gulpins!’
Gulpy, adj. (common).—Easily duped.
Gulsh. To hold one’s gulsh, verb. phr. (provincial).—To hold one’s
tongue; to keep quiet.
Gum, subs. (old).—1. Chatter; talk; jaw (q.v.). Also abuse.
1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xiv. There’s no occasion to
bowse out so much unnecessary gum.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Come let us have no more of your
gum.
1824. R. B. Peake, Americans Abroad, i., 1. Dou. Come, none of your
gum—now you are but an underlin’, tho’ you are so uppish and
twistical—where’s the chair?
2. (American).—A trick; a piece of dupery; a sell (q.v.). Also
gummation.
3. (American).—A golosh; an india-rubber overshoe. [Short for
‘gum-shoes.’]
1872. Morning Post, 9 Jan. Forbidding him again to cross her
threshold or to leave his gum-shoes in her hall.
Verb (common).—To cheat; to take in (q.v.), to roast (q.v.) or quiz.
For synonyms, see Gammon.
1859. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, 6 p.m., par. I. I began to think
either that he was quizzing me—gumming is the proper Transatlantic
colloquialism, I think.
1875. ‘American English’ in Chamb. Journal, 25 Sept., p. 611. To
‘gum-tree’ is to elude, to cheat [from opossum], and this again is
shortened into ‘to gum,’ as the phrase, ‘Now don’t you try to gum
me.’
Old Mother Gum, subs. phr. (common).—An old woman: in derision.
By gum! intj. (common).—A mild oath. For synonyms, see Oaths.
1860. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Season Ticket, No. ix. By gum,
Squire Shegog, we have had the greatest bobbery of a shindy in our
carriage you ever knowed in all our born days.
Bless your (or his, her, its, etc.) gums, phr. (common).—A piece of
banter: a facetious way of saying ‘Bless your soul!’
Gummagy, adj. (common).—Snarling; of a scolding habit.
Gummed, adj. (billiards).—Said of a ball close to the cushion.
Gummy, subs. (common).—1. A toothless person; i.e., with nothing but
gums to show. Generally, Old Gummy.