GID, gid, _n._ staggers in sheep.--Also STUR'DY (q.v.).
GIDDY, gid'i, _adj._ unsteady, dizzy: that causes giddiness: whirling:
inconstant: thoughtless.--_adv._ GIDD'ILY.--_n._ GIDD'INESS.--_adjs._
GIDD'Y-HEAD'ED, thoughtless, wanting reflection; GIDD'Y-PACED (_Shak._),
moving irregularly. [From A.S. _giddian_, to sing, be merry, _gid_, a
song.]
GIE, g[=e], _v._ a Scotch form of _give_.
GIER-EAGLE, j[=e]r'-[=e]'gl, _n._ (_B._) a species of eagle. [See
GYRFALCON.]
GIF, gif, _conj._ an obsolete form of _if_.
GIFT, gift, _n._ a thing given: a bribe: a quality bestowed by nature: the
act of giving.--_v.t._ to endow with any power or faculty.--_adj._ GIFT'ED,
endowed by nature: intellectual.--_ns._ GIFT'-HORSE, a horse given as a
gift; GIFT'LING, a little gift.--LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, to
criticise a gift. [_Give._]
GIG, gig, _n._ a light, two-wheeled carriage: a long, light boat: (_U.S._)
sport, fun.--_v.t._ and _v.i._ GIG'GIT (_U.S._), to convey or move
rapidly.--_ns._ GIG'MAN, one who drives or keeps a gig--a favourite term of
Carlyle's for a narrow philistinism based on the possession of a little
more money than others, whence GIG'MANESS, GIGMAN'ITY, GIG'M[=A]NIA. [M. E.
_gigge_, a whirling thing (cf. WHIRLIGIG); prob. related to Ice. _geiga_,
to turn in a wrong direction. Cf. JIG.]
GIGANTIC, j[=i]-gan'tik, _adj._ suitable to a giant: enormous--also
GIGANT[=E]'AN.--_adj._ GIGANTESQUE', befitting a giant.--_adv._
GIGAN'TICALLY.--_ns._ GIGAN'TICIDE, the act of killing a giant;
GIGANTOL'OGY, description of giants; GIGANTOM'ACHY, a war of giants. [L.
_gigas_, _gigantis_, a giant, _cæd[)e]re_, to kill.]
GIGGLE, gig'l, _v.i._ to laugh with short catches of the breath, or in a
silly manner.--_n._ a laugh of this kind.--_ns._ GIGG'LER; GIGG'LING. [M.
E. _gagelen_, to cackle; cf. Ice. _gagl_, a goose.]
GIGLET, gig'let, _n._ a giddy girl: a wanton--also GIG'LOT.--_adj._
(_Shak._) inconstant. [Prob. Ice. _gikkr_, a pert person; perh. related to
_gig_. See JIG.]
GIGOT, jig'ut, _n._ a leg of mutton. [Fr.,--O. Fr. _gigue_, a leg: a
fiddle; a word of unknown origin.]
GILA MONSTER. See MONSTER.
GILD, gild, _v.t._ to cover or overlay with gold: to cover with any
gold-like substance: to gloss over: to adorn with lustre:--_pr.p._
gild'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ gild'ed or gilt.--_ns._ GILD'ER, one who
coats articles with gold; GILD'ING, act or trade of a gilder: gold laid on
any surface for ornament.--GILDED CHAMBER, the House of Lords; GILD THE
PILL, to do something to make a disagreeable thing seem less so. [A.S.
_gyldan_--gold. See GOLD.]
GILL, gil, _n._ one of the breathing organs in fishes and certain other
aquatic animals: the flap below the bill of a fowl. [Cf. Dan. _giælle_, a
gill; Ice. _gjölnar_ (pl.), gills; Sw. _gäl_.]
GILL, jil, _n._ a measure=¼ pint.--_n._ GILL'-HOUSE, a dram-shop. [O. Fr.
_gelle_; cf. Low L. _gillo_, a flask; allied to Fr. _jale_, a large bowl,
Eng. _gallon_.]
GILL, jil, _n._ a girl, because of the commonness of the name _Gillian_,
cf. 'Jack and Jill:' ground-ivy: beer flavoured with ground-ivy.--_n._
GILL'-FLIRT, a wanton girl. [From _Gillian_ or _Juliana_ (from _Julius_), a
female name, contracted _Gill_, _Jill_.]