1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 325. Then they gag the thing up, and send their bills out about the immense cost of scenery and dresses, and other expenses they are at, etc. 3. (thieves’).—To inform; to round on (q.v.); also to blow the gag. Cf., Gaff, Gab, etc. For synonyms, see Peach. 1891. Morning Advertiser, 28 Mar. She ... besought them with (crocodile) tears not to gag on them, in other words not to give information to the police. On the high gag. adv. phr. (old).—On the whisper; telling secrets; cf., verb, sense 3. 1823. Kent, The Modern Flash Dict., s.v. 1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, etc., s.v. On the low gag, adv. phr. (old).—On the last rungs of beggary, ill-luck, or despair. 1823. Kent, The Modern Flash Dict., s.v. 1848. Duncombe, The Sinks of London, etc., s.v. To strike the gag, verb. phr. (old).—To cease from chaffing. 1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard (ed. 1889), p. 43. ‘A clever device,’ replied Jonathan; ‘but it won’t serve your turn. Let us pass, sir. Strike the gag, Blueskin.’ Gage (Gauge or Gag), subs. (old).—1. A quart pot (i.e., a measure). Also a drink or go (q.v.). 1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. A gage, a quart pot. 1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874). Gage, a quart pot. 1622. J. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush. I crown thy nab with a gage of benbouse. 1656. Broome, Jovial Crew, Act ii., I bowse no lage, but a whole gage Of this I bowse to you. 1690. B. E., New Dict. of the Cant. Crew. Gage, c. A pot or pipe. Tip me a gage, c. give me a pot, or pipe. 1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 12. Gage, a pot. 1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. Gage, a quart pot, also a pint (cant). 1821. Haggart, Life, p. 40. We drank our gauge and parted good friends. 2. (18th century).—A chamber-pot. 3. (old).—A pipe. 1690. B. E., New Dict. of the Cant. Crew (See quot. 1690 under sense 1). 1796. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd Ed.), s.v. 1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, Bk. III., ch. v. In the mean time, tip me a gage of fogus, Jerry. 4. (American).—A man. For synonyms, see Cove. 1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogues Lexicon. Deck the gage, see the man. Gagers, subs. (American).—The eyes. For synonyms, see Glims. 1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Gagga, subs. (old).—See quot. 1796. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd Ed). Cheats who by sham pretences and wonderful stories of their sufferings impose on the credulity of good people. Gagger, subs. (theatrical).—A player who deals in gags (q.v.), sense 2. Also Gaggist, Gagmaster, and Gagster. 1841. Punch, Vol. I., p. 169. Men with ‘swallows’ like Thames tunnels, in fact accomplished gaggers and unrivalled ‘wiry watchers.’ 1887. Burnand and a’Beckett in Fortn. Review, April, p. 548. Robson ... was an inveterate gagger.