Garroter noun One who seizes a person by the throat from behind, with a view to strangle and rob him.

Garrulity noun [ Latin garrulitas : confer French garrulité .] Talkativeness; loquacity.

Garrulous adjective [ Latin garrulus , from garrire to chatter, talk; confer Greek ... voice, ... to speak, sing. Confer Call .]
1. Talking much, especially about commonplace or trivial things; talkative; loquacious.

The most garrulous people on earth.

De Quincey.

2. (Zoology) Having a loud, harsh note; noisy; -- said of birds; as, the garrulous roller.

Syn. -- Garrulous , Talkative , Loquacious . A garrulous person indulges in long, prosy talk, with frequent repetitions and lengthened details; talkative implies simply a great desire to talk; and loquacious a great flow of words at command. A child is talkative ; a lively woman is loquacious ; an old man in his dotage is garrulous .

-- Gar"ru*lous*ly , adverb -- Gar"ru*lous*ness , noun

Garrupa noun [ Prob. from Portuguese garupa crupper. Confer Grouper the fish.] (Zoology) One of several species of California market fishes, of the genus Sebastichthys ; -- called also rockfish . See Rockfish .

Garter noun [ Middle English gartier , French jarretière , from Old French garet bend of the knee, French jarret ; akin to Spanish garra claw, Prov. garra leg. See Garrote .]
1. A band used to prevent a stocking from slipping down on the leg.

2. The distinguishing badge of the highest order of knighthood in Great Britain, called the Order of the Garter , instituted by Edward III.; also, the Order itself.

3. (Her.) Same as Bendlet .

Garter fish (Zoology) , a fish of the genus Lepidopus , having a long, flat body, like the blade of a sword; the scabbard fish. -- Garter king-at- arms , the chief of the official heralds of England, king-at-arms to the Order of the Garter; -- often abbreviated to Garter . -- Garter snake (Zoology) , one of several harmless American snakes of the genus Eutænia , of several species (esp. E. saurita and E. sirtalis ); one of the striped snakes; -- so called from its conspicuous stripes of color.

Garter transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Gartered ; present participle & verbal noun Gartering .]
1. To bind with a garter.

He . . . could not see to garter his hose.

Shak.

2. To invest with the Order of the Garter. T. Warton.

Garter stitch The simplest stitch in knitting.

Garth (gärth) noun [ Icelandic garðr yard. See Yard .]
1. A close; a yard; a croft; a garden; as, a cloister garth .

A clapper clapping in a garth
To scare the fowl from fruit.

Tennyson.

2. A dam or weir for catching fish.

Garth noun [ Girth .] A hoop or band. [ Prov. Eng.]

Garum (gā"rŭm) noun [ Latin , from Greek ga`ros .] A sauce made of small fish. It was prized by the ancients.

Garvie noun (Zoology) The sprat; -- called also garvie herring , and garvock . [ Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Gas (găs) noun ; plural Gases (-ĕz). [ Invented by the chemist Van Helmont of Brussels, who died in 1644.]
1. An aëriform fluid; -- a term used at first by chemists as synonymous with air , but since restricted to fluids supposed to be permanently elastic, as oxygen, hydrogen, etc., in distinction from vapors, as steam, which become liquid on a reduction of temperature. In present usage, since all of the supposed permanent gases have been liquified by cold and pressure, the term has resumed nearly its original signification, and is applied to any substance in the elastic or aëriform state.

2. (Popular Usage) (a) A complex mixture of gases, of which the most important constituents are marsh gas, olefiant gas, and hydrogen, artificially produced by the destructive distillation of gas coal, or sometimes of peat, wood, oil, resin, etc. It gives a brilliant light when burned, and is the common gas used for illuminating purposes. (b) Laughing gas. (c) Any irrespirable aëriform fluid.

» Gas is often used adjectively or in combination; as, gas fitter or gas fitter; gas meter or gas -meter, etc.

Air gas (Chemistry) , a kind of gas made by forcing air through some volatile hydrocarbon, as the lighter petroleums. The air is so saturated with combustible vapor as to be a convenient illuminating and heating agent. -- Gas battery (Electricity) , a form of voltaic battery, in which gases, especially hydrogen and oxygen, are the active agents. -- Gas carbon , Gas coke , etc. See under Carbon , Coke , etc. -- Gas coal , a bituminous or hydrogenous coal yielding a high percentage of volatile matters, and therefore available for the manufacture of illuminating gas. R. W. Raymond. -- Gas engine , an engine in which the motion of the piston is produced by the combustion or sudden production or expansion of gas; -- especially, an engine in which an explosive mixture of gas and air is forced into the working cylinder and ignited there by a gas flame or an electric spark. -- Gas fitter , one who lays pipes and puts up fixtures for gas. -- Gas fitting . (a) The occupation of a gas fitter. (b) plural The appliances needed for the introduction of gas into a building, as meters, pipes, burners, etc. -- Gas fixture , a device for conveying illuminating or combustible gas from the pipe to the gas- burner, consisting of an appendage of cast, wrought, or drawn metal, with tubes upon which the burners, keys, etc., are adjusted. -- Gas generator , an apparatus in which gas is evolved ; as: (a) a retort in which volatile hydrocarbons are evolved by heat ; (b) a machine in which air is saturated with the vapor of liquid hydrocarbon; a carburetor ; (c) a machine for the production of carbonic acid gas, for aërating water, bread, etc. Knight. -- Gas jet , a flame of illuminating gas. -- Gas machine , an apparatus for carbureting air for use as illuminating gas. -- Gas meter , an instrument for recording the quantity of gas consumed in a given time, at a particular place. -- Gas retort , a retort which contains the coal and other materials, and in which the gas is generated, in the manufacture of gas. -- Gas stove , a stove for cooking or other purposes, heated by gas. -- Gas tar , coal tar. -- Gas trap , a drain trap; a sewer trap. See 4th Trap , 5. -- Gas washer (Gas Works) , an apparatus within which gas from the condenser is brought in contact with a falling stream of water, to precipitate the tar remaining in it. Knight. -- Gas water , water through which gas has been passed for purification; -- called also gas liquor and ammoniacal water , and used for the manufacture of sal ammoniac, carbonate of ammonia, and Prussian blue. Tomlinson. -- Gas well , a deep boring, from which natural gas is discharged. Raymond. -- Gas works , a manufactory of gas, with all the machinery and appurtenances; a place where gas is generated for lighting cities. -- Laughing gas . See under Laughing . -- Marsh gas (Chemistry) , a light, combustible, gaseous hydrocarbon, CH ₄ , produced artificially by the dry distillation of many organic substances, and occurring as a natural product of decomposition in stagnant pools, whence its name. It is an abundant ingredient of ordinary illuminating gas, and is the first member of the paraffin series. Called also methane , and in coal mines, fire damp . -- Natural gas , gas obtained from wells, etc., in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and elsewhere, and largely used for fuel and illuminating purposes. It is chiefly derived from the Coal Measures. -- Olefiant gas (Chemistry) . See Ethylene . -- Water gas (Chemistry) , a kind of gas made by forcing steam over glowing coals, whereby there results a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This gives a gas of intense heating power, but destitute of light-giving properties, and which is charged by passing through some volatile hydrocarbon, as gasoline.

Gas transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Gassed ; present participle & verbal noun Gassing .]
1. (Textiles) To singe, as in a gas flame, so as to remove loose fibers; as, to gas thread.

2. To impregnate with gas; as, to gas lime with chlorine in the manufacture of bleaching powder.

Gas noun Gasoline. [ Colloq.]

Gas engine (Machinery) A kind of internal- combustion engine (which see) using fixed gas; also, broadly, any internal-combustion engine.

Gas-burner noun The jet piece of a gas fixture where the gas is burned as it escapes from one or more minute orifices.

Gasalier noun [ Formed from gas , in imitation of chande lier .] A chandelier arranged to burn gas.

Gascoines noun plural See Gaskins , 1. Lyly.

Gascon adjective [ French] Of or pertaining to Gascony, in France, or to the Gascons; also, braggart; swaggering. -- noun A native of Gascony; a boaster; a bully. See Gasconade .

Gasconade noun [ French gasconnade , from Gascon an inhabitant of Gascony, the people of which were noted for boasting.] A boast or boasting; a vaunt; a bravado; a bragging; braggodocio. Swift.

Gasconade intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Gasconaded ; present participle & verbal noun Gasconading .] To boast; to brag; to bluster.

Gasconader noun A great boaster; a blusterer.

Gascoynes noun plural Gaskins. Beau. & Fl.

Gaseity noun State of being gaseous. [ R] Eng. Cyc.

Gaselier noun [ Formed from gas , in imitation of chande lier .] A chandelier arranged to burn gas.

Gaseous adjective [ From Gas . Confer French gazeux .]
1. In the form, or of the nature, of gas, or of an aëriform fluid.

2. Lacking substance or solidity; tenuous. "Unconnected, gaseous information." Sir J. Stephen.

Gash (găsh) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Gashed (găsht); present participle & verbal noun Gashing .] [ For older garth or garse , Old French garser to scarify, French gercer to chap, perhaps from an assumed Late Latin carptiare , from Latin carpere , carptum , to pluck, separate into parts; confer Late Latin carptare to wound. Confer Carpet .] To make a gash, or long, deep incision in; -- applied chiefly to incisions in flesh.

Grievously gashed or gored to death.

Hayward.

Gash noun A deep and long cut; an incision of considerable length and depth, particularly in flesh.

Gashful adjective Full of gashes; hideous; frightful. [ Obsolete] "A gashful , horrid, ugly shape." Gayton.

Gasification noun [ See Gasify .] The act or process of converting into gas.

Gasiform adjective Having a form of gas; gaseous.

Gasify transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Gasified ; present participle & verbal noun Gasifying .] [ Gas + -fy .] To convert into gas, or an aëriform fluid, as by the application of heat, or by chemical processes.

Gasify intransitive verb To become gas; to pass from a liquid to a gaseous state. Scientific American.

Gasket noun [ Confer French garcette , Italian gaschetta , Spanish cajeta caburn, garceta reef point.]
1. (Nautical) A line or band used to lash a furled sail securely. Sea gaskets are common lines; harbor gaskets are plaited and decorated lines or bands. Called also casket .

2. (Mech.) (a) The plaited hemp used for packing a piston, as of the steam engine and its pumps. (b) Any ring or washer of packing.

Gaskins noun plural [ Confer Galligaskins .]
1. Loose hose or breeches; galligaskins. [ Obsolete] Shak.

2. Packing of hemp. Simmonds.

3. A horse's thighs. [ Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Gaslight noun
1. The light yielded by the combustion of illuminating gas.

2. A gas jet or burner.

Gasogen noun [ Gas + - gen .]
1. An apparatus for the generation of gases, or for impregnating a liquid with a gas, or a gas with a volatile liquid.

2. A volatile hydrocarbon, used as an illuminant, or for charging illuminating gas.

Gasolene noun See Gasoline .

Gasolier noun Same as Gasalier .

Gasoline noun A highly volatile mixture of fluid hydrocarbons, obtained from petroleum, as also by the distillation of bituminous coal. It is used in making air gas, and in giving illuminating power to water gas. See Carburetor .

Gasoline, Gasolene, engine (Machinery) A kind of internal-combustion engine; -- in British countries called usually petrol engine .

Gasometer noun [ Gas + -meter . Confer French gazomètre .] An apparatus for holding and measuring of gas; in gas works, a huge iron cylinder closed at one end and having the other end immersed in water, in which it is made to rise or fall, according to the volume of gas it contains, or the pressure required.

Gasometric (? or ?), Gas`o*met"ric*al adjective Of or pertaining to the measurement of gases; as, gasometric analysis.

Gasometry noun The art or practice of measuring gases; also, the science which treats of the nature and properties of these elastic fluids. Coxe.

Gasoscope noun [ Gas + - scope .] An apparatus for detecting the presence of any dangerous gas, from a gas leak in a coal mine or a dwelling house.

Gasp intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Gasped ; present participle & verbal noun Gasping .] [ Middle English gaspen , gaispen , to yawn, gasp, Icelandic geispa to yawn; akin to Swedish gäspa , Danish gispe to gasp.]
1. To open the mouth wide in catching the breath, or in laborious respiration; to labor for breath; to respire convulsively; to pant violently.

She gasps and struggles hard for life.

Lloyd.

2. To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire.

Quenching the gasping furrows' thirst with rain.

Spenser.

Gasp transitive verb To emit or utter with gasps; -- with forth , out , away , etc.

And with short sobs he gasps away his breath.

Dryden.

Gasp noun The act of opening the mouth convulsively to catch the breath; a labored respiration; a painful catching of the breath.

At the last gasp , at the point of death. Addison.

Gaspereau noun (Zoology) The alewife. [ Local, Canada]

Gasserian adjective Relating to Casserio (L. Gasserius ), the discover of the Gasserian ganglion.

Gasserian ganglion (Anat.) , a large ganglion, at the root of the trigeminal, or fifth cranial, nerve.