GING, ging, _n._ a gang or company. [A.S. _genge_, a troop, _gangan_, to
go. See GANG.]
GINGELLY-OIL, jin-jel'i-oil, _n._ the oil of Indian sesame.
GINGER, jin'j[.e]r, _n._ the root of a plant in the East and West Indies,
with a hot and spicy taste, useful as a condiment or stomachic.--_ns._
GINGERADE', an aerated drink flavoured with ginger; GIN'GERBEER, an
effervescent drink flavoured with ginger; GIN'GERBREAD, sweet bread
flavoured with ginger; GIN'GER-COR'DIAL, a cordial made of ginger,
lemon-peel, raisins, water, and sometimes spirits; GIN'GERNUT, a small cake
flavoured with ginger and sweetened with molasses.--_adj._ GIN'GEROUS, like
ginger.--_ns._ GIN'GERPOP, weak gingerbeer; GIN'GERSNAP, a thin brittle
cake spiced with ginger; GIN'GER-WINE, a liquor made by the fermentation of
sugar and water, and flavoured with various spices, chiefly
ginger.--GINGERBREAD WARE, or WORK, cheap and tawdry ornamental work.--TAKE
THE GILT OFF THE GINGERBREAD, to destroy the illusion. [M. E.
_gingivere_--O. Fr. _gengibre_--L. _zingiber_--Gr. _zingiberis_--Sans.
_çriñga-vera_--_çriñga_, horn, _vera_, shape.]
GINGERLY, jin'j[.e]r-li, _adv._ with soft steps: cautiously. [From a Scand.
root, seen in Sw. _gingla_, to totter.]
GINGHAM, ging'ham, _n._ a kind of cotton cloth, woven from coloured yarns
into stripes or checks, manufactured chiefly for dresses. [Fr. _guingan_,
acc. to Littré, a corr. of _Guingamp_, in Brittany.]
GINGING, gin'jing, _n._ (_prov._) the lining of a shaft.
GINGIVAL, jin-j[=i]'val, _adj._ pertaining to the gums.--_n._
GINGIV[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the gums. [L. _gingivæ_.]
GINGKO, ging'k[=o], _n._ a Chinese tree, allied to the yew, with edible
fruit--the Maiden-hair-tree. [Jap. _gingk[=o]_--Chin. _yin-hing_--_yin_,
silver, _hing_, apricot.]
GINGLE, jing'l. Same as JINGLE.
GINGLYMUS, jing'gli-mus (or ging'-), _n._ a joint that permits flexion and
extension in a single plane, as at the elbow and ankle:--_pl._
GING'LYM[=I]. [Gr.]
GINNET, jin'net, _n._ obsolete form of _jennet_.
GINNING. See GIN (2).
GINNY-CARRIAGE, jin'i-kar'[=a]j, _n._ a small strong carriage used for
conveying materials on a railway.
GINSENG, jin'seng, _n._ a plant of genus _Aralia_, and its root, a Chinese
panacea for exhaustion of body or mind. [Chin. _jin-tsan_.]
GIP, jip, _n._ Same as GYP.
GIPSY, GYPSEY, GYPSY, jip'si, _n._ one of a wandering race, originally from
India, now scattered over Europe: one with a dark complexion: a sly,
roguish woman.--_adj._ unconventional, outdoor.--_ns._ GIP'SYDOM;
GIP'SYISM.--GIPSY HAT, a hat for women, with large flaps at the sides;
GIPSY TABLE, a form of light fancy table; GIPSY WAGON, a wagon or van like
a dwelling on wheels, used by gipsies and travelling photographers.
[_Egyptian_, because once supposed to come from Egypt.]
GIRAFFE, ji-raf', _n._ the camelopard, an African quadruped with remarkably
long neck and legs. [Fr.,--Sp. _girafa_--Ar. _zar[=a]f_.]
GIRANDOLE, jir'an-d[=o]l, _n._ a branched chandelier, generally projecting
from a wall, and used as a stand for candles or lamps, or for flowers: a
rotating firework. [Fr.,--It. _girandola_--_girare_--L. _gyr[=a]re_, to
turn round--_gyrus_--Gr. _gyros_, a circle.]
GIRASOL, jir'a-sol, _n._ a bluish-white translucent opal with reddish
reflections. [It.,--_girare_, and _sole_--L. _sol_, the sun.]
GIRD, g[.e]rd, _v.i._ to gibe, jeer (with _at_).--_v.t._ (_obs._) to
taunt.--_n._ (_obs._) a sneer. [A.S. _gyrd_, _gierd_, rod.]
GIRD, g[.e]rd, _v.t._ to bind round: to make fast by binding: to surround:
to clothe, furnish:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ gird'ed or girt.--_n._ GIRD'ER,
one of the principal pieces of timber in a floor binding the others
together: in engineering, any simple or compound beam of wood, iron, or
steel used to support joisting, walls, arches, &c., in various kinds of
bridges.--GIRD ONE'S SELF, to tuck up loose garments under the girdle: to
brace the mind for any trial or effort. [A.S. _gyrdan_; cf. Ger. _gürten_,
_garden_, Eng. _yard_.]
GIRDING, g[.e]rd'ing, _n._ (_B._) a covering.
GIRDLE, g[.e]rd'l, _n._ that which encircles, esp. a band or belt for the
waist: an enclosure, compass, limit: in jewellery, a horizontal line
surrounding a stone.--_v.t._ to bind, as with a girdle: to enclose: to make
a circular incision, as through the bark of a tree to kill it.--_n._
GIRD'LE-BELT, a belt for girding the waist.--_p.adj._ GIRD'LED (_Shak._),
surrounded with, or as with, a girdle.--_n._ GIRD'LER, one who girdles: a
maker of girdles. [A.S. _gyrdel_--_gyrdan_, to gird.]
GIRDLE, g[.e]rd'l, _n._ a Scotch form of _griddle_.
GIRKIN, g[.e]r'kin, _n._ Same as GHERKIN.
GIRL, g[.e]rl, _n._ a female child: a young unmarried woman: a
maid-servant.--_n._ GIRL'HOOD, the state or time of being a girl.--_adj._
GIRL'ISH, of or like a girl.--_adv._ GIRL'ISHLY--_n._ GIRL'ISHNESS. [Prob.
from Old Low Ger. _gör_, a child, with dim. suffix _-l_.]
GIRLOND, obsolete form of _garland_.