Verb. (old).—To hamstring. 1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. To gigg a Smithfield hank, to hamstring an overdrove ox. By Gigs! intj. (old).—A mild and silly oath. See Oaths. 1551. W. Still, Gammer Gurton’s Needle, ii., 51. Chad a foule turne now of late, chill tell it you, by gigs! Gigamaree, subs. (American).—A thing of little worth; a pretty but useless toy; a gimcrack (q.v.). 1848. Jones, Sketches of Travel, p. 9. Byin’ fineries and northern gigamarees of one kind or another. Ibid. I ax’d the captain what sort of a gigamaree he had got up there for a flag. Gigantomachize, verb. (old).—To rise in revolt against one’s betters. Gr., Gigantomachia = the War of the Giants against the Gods. [Probably a coinage of Ben Jonson’s.] 1599. Jonson, Every Man Out, Act v., 4. Slight, fed with it the whoreson, strummel-patched, goggle-eyed grumble-dores would have gigantomachized their Maker. Gigger, subs. (tailors’).—1. A sewing machine. (In allusion to noise and movement). 2. See Jigger. Giggles-nest. Have you found a giggles-nest? phr. (old).—Asked of a person tittering, or one who laughs immoderately and senselessly. Gig-lamps, subs. (common).—1. Spectacles. For synonyms, see Barnacles. 1848. Bradley, in Letter to J. C. H. Gig-lamps (certainly a university term. I first heard it in 1848 or 1849, long before Mr. Verdant Green was born or thought of). 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 140. You with the gig-lamps, throw us your cigar. 1887. Punch, 30 July, p. 45. Jack’s a straw-thatched young joker in gig-lamps. 1892. F. Anstey, Voces Populi. ‘At the Tudor Exhibition.’ Stop, though, suppose she has spotted me? Never can tell with giglamps. 2. (common).—One who wears spectacles; a four eyes (q.v.). [Popularised by Verdant Green.] Gigler (or Giglet, Goglet, Gigle, Gig), subs. (old).—A wanton; a mistress. Giglet (West of England) = a giddy, romping girl; and in Salop a flighty person is called a giggle. Cf., Gig, sense 1. 1533. Udal, Floures for Latine Spekynge, fo. 101. What is the matter, foolish giglotte? What meanest thou? Whereat laughest thou? 1567. Harman, Caveat, leaf 22, back. Therefore let us assemble secretly into the place where he hath appoynted to meet this gyleot that is at your house. 1603. Shakspeare, Measure for Measure, v., 1. Let him speak no more: away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion. 1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie. Gadrouillette, minx, gigle, flirt. 1620. Massienger, Fatal Dowry, Act. iii. If this be The recompence of striving to preserve A wanton gigglet honest, very shortly ’Twill make all mankind pandars. 1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. 1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. Gigglers, wanton women. Adj. (old).—Loose in word and deed. Also giglet-like, and giglet-wise = like a wanton.