1866. W. D. Howells, Venetian Life, ch. v.... I have heard some very passable gags at the Marionette, but the real commedia a braccio no longer exists. 1889. Globe, 12 Oct., p. 4, c. 4. In a high-class music hall it is a rule that no song must be sung till it is read and signed by the manager, and this applies even to the gag. 1890. Pall Mall Gazette, 5 Mar., p. 4, c. 3. Mr. Augustus Harris pointed out that if the clause were carried the penalty would, in many cases, be incurred twenty times in one scene, for actors and singers were continually introducing gag into their business. 3. (American).—A commonwealth of players in which the profits are shared round. Cf., Conscience. 1847. Darley, Drama in Pokerville, p. 124. The artist ... merely remarking that he had thought of a gag which would bring them through, mounted a ladder, and disappeared. 4. (American).—A fool; i.e., a thing to laugh at. For synonyms, see Cabbage- and Buffle-head and Sammy Soft. 1838–40. Haliburton, The Clockmaker, p. 46. ‘Sam,’ says he, ‘they tell me you broke down the other day in the House of Representatives and made a proper gag of yourself.’ 5. (Christ’s Hospital).—Boiled fat beef. Gag-eater = a term of reproach. 1813. Lamb, Christ’s Hospital, in wks., p. 324 (ed. 1852). L. has recorded the repugnance of the school to gags, or the fat of fresh beef boiled; and sets it down to some superstition.... A gag-eater in our time was equivalent to a ghoul ... and held in equal estimation. 6. (Winchester College).—An exercise (said to have been invented by Dr. Gabell) which consists in writing Latin criticisms on some celebrated piece, in a book sent in about once a month. In the Parts below Sixth Book and Senior Part, the gags consisted in historical analysis. [An abbreviation of ‘gathering.’] 1870. Mansfield, School-life at Winchester College, p. 108. From time to time, also, they had to write ... an analysis of some historical work; these productions were called gatherings (or gags). Verb, trs. and intrs. (theatrical).—1. To speak gags (q.v.), sense 2. Fr., cascader. 1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, III., 149. He has to gag, that is, to make up words. 1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xxxix. The same vocalist gags in the regular business like a man inspired. 1883. Referee, 15 April, p. 3, c. 1. Toole ... cannot repress a tendency to gag and to introduce more than is set down for him by the author. 2. (old).—To hoax; to puff. 1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 154. Having discovered the weak side of him he means to gag. 1823. Jon Bee, Dict. of the Turf, etc., s.v. A showman cries ‘Walk in, ladies and gentlemen, they’re all alive,’ but the spectators soon perceive ’tis all stuff, reproach Mr. Merryman, and he, in excuse, swears he said ‘they were’ and not ‘are alive’ He thus gags the public.