Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 3 [of 7] : $b A dictionary, historical and comparative, of the heterodox speech of all classes of society for more than three hundred years. With synonyms in English, French, German, Italian, etc.Henley, William Ernest
History
Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 3 [of 7] : $b A dictionary, historical and comparative, of the heterodox speech of all classes of society for more than three hundred years. With synonyms in English, French, German, Italian, etc.
Henley, William Ernest
English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries; Slang -- Dictionaries
Verb (old).—1. To whip; to castigate. E.g., gybed at the cart’s arse =
whipped at the cart’s tail.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Gyb’d, jerkt or whipt.
Gybing (also Gibery), subs. (old: now recognised).—Jeering.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Gyger. See Jigger.
Gymnasium, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see
Monosyllable.
Gyp, subs. (Cambridge University).—1. A college servant. At Oxford, a
scout, at Dublin, a skip. [Etymology doubtful: according to Sat. Rev.
an abbreviation of Gipsy Joe; according to Cambridge undergraduates
from the Greek γύψ (gups) = a vulture; from the creature’s rapacity.]
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. [A Cambridge college servant is called a
jip.]
1842. Tait’s Mag., Oct., ‘Reminiscences of Coll. Life.’ There is
attached to colleges and halls a person more useful than
ornamental, and better known than paid, whom Oxonians name Gyp,
from his supposed moral affinity to a vulture (γύψ). The same is in
Dublin denominated a Skip, because of the activity which is an
indispensable item in his qualifications.
1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. xii. I’ll send you in luncheon
as I go through the butteries; then, perhaps, you’d like to come
down and see the race. Ask the Gyp to tell you the way.
1850. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, p. 254. Fellow you call the gyp
wanted to make me believe you were out—thought I looked too like a
governor to be let in, I suppose.
1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. v. Who should we see coming
straight down on us but a Proctor with his bull-dogs (not dogs, you
know, but the strongest gyps in the college).
2. (American).—A thief. For synonyms, see Thieves.
Gypsies of Science, subs. phr. (literary.)—The British Association.
1846. Times, 5 Sept. On Thursday next, the Gipsies of Science (the
British Association) will have pitched their tents at Southampton.
Gyrotwistive, adj. (American).—Full of evasions and tricks; a
‘portmanteau word.’
Gyte, subs. (common).—1. A child; in contempt. [A corruption of goat.]
2. (Scots’).—A first year’s pupil in the Edinburgh High School.
Gyvel, subs. (Scots’ venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see
Monosyllable.
d. 1796. Burns, The Merry Muses, ‘Nine Inches for a Lady,’ 33–4.
Come louse and lug your battering ram, An’ thrash him at my gyvel.
H
Haberdasher, subs. (old colloquial: now recognised).—1. A dealer in
small wares; specifically (1) a hatter, and (2, humorously) a publican
(i.e., a seller of tape [q.v.]). Now restricted to a retail draper.
1599. Minsheu, Dictionarie, s.v.
1632. Jonson, The Magnetic Lady, ‘Induction.’ Poetaccios,
poetasters, poetitos.... And all haberdashers of small wit.
d. 1680. Butler, Remains (1759), ii., 107. He set up haberdasher of
a small poetry.
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