GAS, gas, _n._ a vaporous substance not condensed into a liquid at ordinary
terrestrial temperatures and pressures--esp. that obtained from coal, used
in lighting houses: (_coll._) frothy talk:--_pl._ GAS'ES.--_v.t._ to supply
with gas: (_U.S._) to impose on by talking gas.--_v.i._ to vapour, talk
boastfully.--_ns._ GASALIER', GASELIER', a hanging frame with branches for
gas-jets, formed on false analogy from _chandelier_; GAS'-BAG, a bag for
holding gas: a boastful, talkative person; GAS'-BRACK'ET, a pipe, mostly
curved, projecting from the wall of a room, used for illuminating purposes;
GAS'-BURN'ER, a piece of metal fitted to the end of a gas-pipe, with one or
more small holes so arranged as to spread out the flame; GAS'-COAL, any
coal suitable for making illuminating gas; GAS'-CONDENS'ER, an apparatus
for freeing coal-gas from tar; GAS[=E]'ITY, G[=A]'SEOUSNESS.--_adj._
GASEOUS (g[=a]'se-us).--_ns._ GAS'-EN'GINE, an engine in which motion is
communicated to the piston by the alternate admission and condensation of
gas in a closed cylinder; GAS'-FIT'TER, one who fits up the pipes and
brackets for gas-lighting; GAS'-FIX'TURE, a bracket or chandelier for gas;
GAS'-FUR'NACE, a furnace of which the fuel is gas; GAS'HOLDER, a large
vessel for storing gas; GASIFIC[=A]'TION, the process of converting into
gas.--_v.t._ GAS'IFY, to convert into gas.--_ns._ GAS'-JET, a gas-burner;
GAS'-LAMP, a lamp lighted by gas; GAS'-MAIN, one of the principal
underground pipes conveying gas from the works to the places where it is
consumed; GAS'-MAN, a man employed in the manufacture of gas: the man who
controls the lights of the stage; GAS'-M[=E]'TER, an instrument for
measuring the quantity of gas consumed at a particular place in a given
time; GAS'OGENE (same as GAZOGENE); GAS'OLENE, rectified petroleum;
GASOM'ETER, an instrument for measuring gas: a place for holding
gas.--_adjs._ GASOMET'RIC, -AL.--_ns._ GAS'-PIPE, a pipe for conveying gas;
GAS'SING, idle talking; GAS'-STOVE, an apparatus in which coal-gas is used
for heating and cooking purposes.--_adj._ GAS'SY, full of gas, gaseous:
(_slang_) given to vain and boastful talk.--_ns._ GAS'-TANK, a reservoir
for coal-gas; GAS'-TAR, coal-tar.--_adj._ GAS'-TIGHT, sufficiently close to
prevent the escape of gas.--_ns._ GAS'-WA'TER, water through which coal-gas
has been passed; GAS'-WORKS, an establishment where illuminating gas is
manufactured. [A word invented by the Dutch chemist J. B. Van Helmont
(1577-1644)--the form suggested by Gr. _chaos_.]
GASCONADE, gas-ko-n[=a]d', _n._ boasting talk.--_ns._ GAS'CON, a native of
Gascony; GAS'CONISM. [Fr.,--_Gascon_, from their proverbial boastfulness.]
GASH, gash, _v.t._ to make a deep cut into anything, esp. into flesh.--_n._
a deep, open wound. [Formerly _garse_--O. Fr. _garser_, pierce with a
lancet--Low L. _garsa_. Perh. corrupted from Gr. _charassein_, to cut.]
GASH, gash, _adj._ (_Scot._) shrewd: talkative: trim.--_v.i._ to tattle.
[Prob. a corr. of _sagacious_.]
GASH, gash, _adj._ (_Scot._) ghastly, hideous--also GASH'FUL,
GASH'LY.--_n._ GASH'LINESS.--_adv._ GASH'LY. [From _ghastful_, through
association with _gash_.]
GASKET, gas'ket, _n._ (_naut._) a canvas band used to bind the sails to the
yards when furled: a strip of tow, &c., for packing a piston, &c.--Also
GAS'KIN. [Cf. Fr. _garcette_, It. _gaschetta_; ety. dub.]
GASKINS, gas'kinz, _n._ (_Shak._). See GALLIGASKINS.
GASP, gasp, _v.i._ to gape in order to catch breath: to desire
eagerly.--_n._ the act of opening the mouth to catch the breath.--_pr.p._
and _adj._ GASP'ING, convulsive, spasmodic.--_adv._ GASP'INGLY.--THE LAST
GASP, the utmost extremity. [Ice. _geispa_, to yawn, by metathesis from
_geipsa_, cf. _geip_, idle talk.]
GAST, gast, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to make aghast, to frighten or terrify. [A.S.
_g['æ]stan_; cf. AGHAST.]
GASTEROPOD, gas'ter-o-pod, _n._ one of a class of molluscs, embracing
whelks, limpets, snails, &c., having in general a muscular disc under the
belly, which serves them as feet--also GAS'TROPOD:--_pl._
GASTEROP'ODA.--_adj._ GASTEROP'ODOUS. [Formed from Gr. _gast[=e]r_, the
stomach, _pous_, _podos_, a foot.]
GASTRÆA, gas-tr[=e]'a, _n._ (_biol._) a hypothetic animal form assumed by
Hæckel as the ancestor of all metazoic animals:--_pl._ GASTRÆ'Æ.--_n._
GAS'TRULA, that embryonic form of metazoic animals which consists of a
two-layered sac enclosing a central cavity and having an opening at one
end:--_pl._ GRAS'TRULÆ.--_adj._ GAS'TRULAR.
GASTRALGIA, gas-tral'ji-a, _n._ pain in the stomach or bowels. [Gr.
_gast[=e]r_, the stomach, _algos_, pain.]
GASTRIC, gas'trik, _adj._ belonging to the stomach--also GAS'TRAL.--_ns._
GASTR[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the stomach; GASTROL'OGER.--_adj._
GASTROLOG'ICAL.--_n._ GASTROL'OGY, cookery, good eating.--GASTRIC FEVER, a
bilious remittent fever; GASTRIC JUICE, the digestive liquid secreted by
the glands of the stomach. [Gr. _gast[=e]r_, the belly.]
GASTROCNEMIUS, gas-trok-n[=e]'mi-us, _n._ a superficial muscle of the
posterior tibial region helping to extend the foot. [Gr. _gast[=e]r_,
stomach, _kn[=e]m[=e]_, the leg.]
GASTROMANCY, gas'tro-man-si, _n._ a means of divination by ventriloquism:
divination by large-bellied glasses. [Gr. _gast[=e]r_, belly, _manteia_,
soothsaying.]
GASTRONOME, gas'tro-n[=o]m, _n._ one who pays great attention to his diet,
an epicure--also GASTRON'OMER, GASTRON'OMIST.--_adjs._ GASTRONOM'IC, -AL,
pertaining to gastronomy.--_ns._ GASTRON'OMY, the art or science of good
eating; GAS'TROPHILE, GAS'TROPHILIST, GAS'TROPHILITE; GAS'TROPHILISM, love
of good eating; GAS'TROSOPH, one skilled in matters of eating;
GASTROS'OPHER; GASTROS'OPHY. [Gr. _gast[=e]r_, belly, _nomos_,
law--_nemein_, to distribute.]
GASTROSTOMY, gas-tros'to-mi, _n._ an operation performed in a case of
stricture of the gullet, to introduce food into the stomach through an
external opening. [Gr. _gast[=e]r_, belly, _stoma_, mouth.]
GASTROTOMY, gas-trot'o-mi, _n._ the operation of cutting open the belly.
[Gr. _gast[=e]r_, belly, _tom[=e]_, a cutting--_temnein_, to cut.]
GASTRO-VASCULAR, gas-tr[=o]-vas'k[=u]-lar, _adj._ common to the functions
of digestion and circulation.
GAT, gat (_B._) _pa.t._ of _get_.