Gaudy Gaud"y noun A feast or festival; -- called also gaud-day and gaudy day . [ Oxford Univ.] Conybeare.

Gaudygreen Gaud"yˇgreen` adjective or noun [ Middle English gaude grene .] Light green. [ Obsolete] Chaucer. Spenser.

Gauffer Gauf"fer transitive verb [ French gaufrer to figure cloth, velvet, and other stuffs, from gaufre honeycomb, waffle; of German origin. See Waffle , Wafer , and confer Goffer , Gopher an animal.] To plait, crimp, or flute; to goffer, as lace. See Goffer .

Gauffering Gauf"ferˇing noun A mode of plaiting or fluting.

Gauffering iron , a kind of fluting iron for fabrics. -- Gauffering press (Flower Manuf.) , a press for crimping the leaves and petals into shape.

Gauffre Gauf"fre noun [ See Gopher .] (Zoology) A gopher, esp. the pocket gopher.

Gauge Gauge transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Gauged ; present participle & verbal noun Gauging ] [ Old French gaugier , French jauger , confer Old French gauge gauge, measuring rod, French jauge ; of uncertain origin; perhaps from an assumed Latin qualificare to determine the qualities of a thing (see Qualify ); but confer also French jalon a measuring stake in surveying, and English gallon .] [ Written also gage .]

1. To measure or determine with a gauge.

2. To measure or to ascertain the contents or the capacity of, as of a pipe, barrel, or keg.

3. (Mech.) To measure the dimensions of, or to test the accuracy of the form of, as of a part of a gunlock.

The vanes nicely gauged on each side.

Derham.

4. To draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it, as cloth or a garment.

5. To measure the capacity, character, or ability of; to estimate; to judge of.

You shall not gauge me
By what we do to-night.

Shak.

Gauge Gauge noun [ Written also gage .] 1. A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard.

This plate must be a gauge to file your worm and groove to equal breadth by.

Moxon.

There is not in our hands any fixed gauge of minds.

I. Taylor.

2. Measure; dimensions; estimate.

The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt.

Burke.

3. (Mach. & Manuf.) Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the dimensions or forms of things; a templet or template; as, a button maker's gauge .

4. (Physics) Any instrument or apparatus for measuring the state of a phenomenon, or for ascertaining its numerical elements at any moment; -- usually applied to some particular instrument; as, a rain gauge ; a steam gauge .

5. (Nautical) (a) Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind; as, a vessel has the weather gauge of another when on the windward side of it, and the lee gauge when on the lee side of it. (b) The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water. Totten.

6. The distance between the rails of a railway.

» The standard gauge of railroads in most countries is four feet, eight and one half inches. Wide , or broad , gauge , in the United States, is six feet; in England, seven feet, and generally any gauge exceeding standard gauge. Any gauge less than standard gauge is now called narrow gauge . It varies from two feet to three feet six inches.

7. (Plastering) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to accelerate its setting.

8. (Building) That part of a shingle, slate, or tile, which is exposed to the weather, when laid; also, one course of such shingles, slates, or tiles.

Gauge of a carriage , car , etc., the distance between the wheels; -- ordinarily called the track . -- Gauge cock , a stop cock used as a try cock for ascertaining the height of the water level in a steam boiler. -- Gauge concussion (Railroads) , the jar caused by a car-wheel flange striking the edge of the rail. -- Gauge glass , a glass tube for a water gauge. -- Gauge lathe , an automatic lathe for turning a round object having an irregular profile, as a baluster or chair round, to a templet or gauge. -- Gauge point , the diameter of a cylinder whose altitude is one inch, and contents equal to that of a unit of a given measure; -- a term used in gauging casks, etc. -- Gauge rod , a graduated rod, for measuring the capacity of barrels, casks, etc. -- Gauge saw , a handsaw, with a gauge to regulate the depth of cut. Knight. -- Gauge stuff , a stiff and compact plaster, used in making cornices, moldings, etc., by means of a templet. -- Gauge wheel , a wheel at the forward end of a plow beam, to determine the depth of the furrow. -- Joiner's gauge , an instrument used to strike a line parallel to the straight side of a board, etc. -- Printer's gauge , an instrument to regulate the length of the page. -- Rain gauge , an instrument for measuring the quantity of rain at any given place. -- Salt gauge , or Brine gauge , an instrument or contrivance for indicating the degree of saltness of water from its specific gravity, as in the boilers of ocean steamers. -- Sea gauge , an instrument for finding the depth of the sea. -- Siphon gauge , a glass siphon tube, partly filled with mercury, -- used to indicate pressure, as of steam, or the degree of rarefaction produced in the receiver of an air pump or other vacuum; a manometer. -- Sliding gauge . (Machinery) (a) A templet or pattern for gauging the commonly accepted dimensions or shape of certain parts in general use, as screws, railway-car axles, etc. (b) A gauge used only for testing other similar gauges, and preserved as a reference, to detect wear of the working gauges. (c) (Railroads) See Note under Gauge , noun , 5. -- Star gauge (Ordnance) , an instrument for measuring the diameter of the bore of a cannon at any point of its length. -- Steam gauge , an instrument for measuring the pressure of steam, as in a boiler. -- Tide gauge , an instrument for determining the height of the tides. -- Vacuum gauge , a species of barometer for determining the relative elasticities of the vapor in the condenser of a steam engine and the air. -- Water gauge . (a) A contrivance for indicating the height of a water surface, as in a steam boiler; as by a gauge cock or glass. (b) The height of the water in the boiler. -- Wind gauge , an instrument for measuring the force of the wind on any given surface; an anemometer. -- Wire gauge , a gauge for determining the diameter of wire or the thickness of sheet metal; also, a standard of size. See under Wire .

Gaugeable Gauge"aˇble adjective Capable of being gauged.

Gauged Gauged p. adjective Tested or measured by, or conformed to, a gauge.

Gauged brick , brick molded, rubbed, or cut to an exact size and shape, for arches or ornamental work. -- Gauged mortar . See Gauge stuff , under Gauge , noun

Gauger Gau"ger noun One who gauges; an officer whose business it is to ascertain the contents of casks.

Gauger-ship Gau"ger-ship noun The office of a gauger.

Gauging rod Gau"ging rod` See Gauge rod , under Gauge , noun

Gaul Gaul noun [ French Gaule , from Latin Gallia , from Gallus a Gaul.] 1. The Anglicized form of Gallia , which in the time of the Romans included France and Upper Italy (Transalpine and Cisalpine Gaul).

2. A native or inhabitant of Gaul.

Gaulish Gaul"ish adjective Pertaining to ancient France, or Gaul; Gallic. [ R.]

Gault Gault noun [ Confer Norw. gald hard ground, Icelandic gald hard snow.] (Geol.) A series of beds of clay and marl in the South of England, between the upper and lower greensand of the Cretaceous period.

Gaultheria Gaulˇthe"riˇa noun [ New Latin ] (Botany) A genus of ericaceous shrubs with evergreen foliage, and, often, edible berries. It includes the American winter- green ( Gaultheria procumbens ), and the larger-fruited salal of Northwestern America ( Gaultheria Shallon ).

Gaunt Gaunt adjective [ Confer Norw. gand a thin pointed stick, a tall and thin man, and W. gwan weak.] Attenuated, as with fasting or suffering; lean; meager; pinched and grim. "The gaunt mastiff." Pope.

A mysterious but visible pestilence, striding gaunt and fleshless across our land.

Nichols.

Gauntlet Gaunt"let noun (Mil.) See Gantlet .

Gauntlet Gaunt"let noun [ French gantelet , dim. of gant glove, Late Latin wantus , of Teutonic origin; confer Dutch want , Swedish & Danish vante , Icelandic vöttr , for vantr .] 1. A glove of such material that it defends the hand from wounds.

» The gauntlet of the Middle Ages was sometimes of chain mail, sometimes of leather partly covered with plates, scales, etc., of metal sewed to it, and, in the 14th century, became a glove of small steel plates, carefully articulated and covering the whole hand except the palm and the inside of the fingers.

2. A long glove, covering the wrist.

3. (Nautical) A rope on which hammocks or clothes are hung for drying.

To take up the gauntlet , to accept a challenge. -- To throw down the gauntlet , to offer or send a challenge. The gauntlet or glove was thrown down by the knight challenging, and was taken up by the one who accepted the challenge; -- hence the phrases.

Gauntletted Gaunt"lettˇed adjective Wearing a gauntlet.

Gauntly Gaunt"ly adverb In a gaunt manner; meagerly.

Gauntree, Gauntry Gaun"tree, Gaun"try noun [ French chantier , Late Latin cantarium , from Latin canterius trellis, sort of frame.] 1. A frame for supporting barrels in a cellar or elsewhere. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Engineering) A scaffolding or frame carrying a crane or other structure. Knight.

Gaur Gaur (gar or gour) noun [ Native name.] (Zoology) An East Indian species of wild cattle ( Bibos gauris ), of large size and an untamable disposition. [ Spelt also gour .]

Gaure Gaure (gar) intransitive verb To gaze; to stare. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Gauss Gauss (gous) noun [ So named after Karl French Gauss , a German mathematician.] (Electricity) The C.G.S. unit of density of magnetic field, equal to a field of one line of force per square centimeter, being thus adopted as an international unit at Paris in 1900; sometimes used as a unit of intensity of magnetic field. It was previously suggested as a unit of magnetomotive force.

Gaussage Gauss"age noun (Electricity) The intensity of a magnetic field expressed in C.G.S. units, or gausses.

Gauze Gauze (gaz) noun [ French gaze ; so called because it was first introduced from Gaza, a city of Palestine.] A very thin, slight, transparent stuff, generally of silk; also, any fabric resembling silk gauze; as, wire gauze ; cotton gauze .

Gauze dresser , one employed in stiffening gauze.

Gauze Gauze adjective Having the qualities of gauze; thin; light; as, gauze merino underclothing.

Gauziness Gauz"iˇness noun The quality of being gauzy; flimsiness. Ruskin.

Gauzy Gauz"y adjective Pertaining to, or resembling, gauze; thin and slight as gauze.

Gavage Ga`vage" (gȧ`vȧzh") noun [ French, from gaver to gorge.] Forced feeding (as of poultry or infants) by means of a tube passed through the mouth down to the stomach.

Gave Gave (gāv), imperfect of Give .

Gavel Gav"el (găv"ĕl) noun A gable. [ Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Gavel Gav"el noun [ Old French gavelle , French javelle , probably dim. from Latin capulus handle, from capere to lay hold of, seize; or confer W. gafael hold, grasp. Confer Heave .] A small heap of grain, not tied up into a bundle. Wright.

Gavel Gav"el noun [ Etymol. uncertain.] 1. The mallet of the presiding officer in a legislative body, public assembly, court, masonic body, etc.

2. A mason's setting maul. Knight.

Gavel Gav"el noun [ Old French gavel , Anglo-Saxon gafol , probably from gifan to give. See Give , and confer Gabel tribute.] (Law) Tribute; toll; custom. [ Obsolete] See Gabel . Cowell.

Gavelet Gav"elˇet noun [ From Gavel tribute.] (O. Eng. Law) An ancient special kind of cessavit used in Kent and London for the recovery of rent. [ Obsolete]

Gavelkind Gav"elˇkind` noun [ Middle English gavelkynde , gavelkende . See Gavel tribute, and Kind , noun ] (O. Eng. Law) A tenure by which land descended from the father to all his sons in equal portions, and the land of a brother, dying without issue, descended equally to his brothers. It still prevails in the county of Kent. Cowell.

Gaveloche Gav"eˇloche noun Same as Gavelock .

Gavelock Gav"eˇlock noun [ Middle English gaveloc a dart, Anglo-Saxon gafeluc ; confer Icelandic gaflok , Middle High German gabil...t , Old French gavelot , glavelot , French javelot , Ir. gabhla spear, W. gaflach fork, dart, English glave , gaff ] 1. A spear or dart. [ R. & Obsolete]

2. An iron crow or lever. [ Scot. & North of Eng.]

Gaverick Ga"verˇick noun (Zoology) The European red gurnard ( Trigla cuculus ). [ Prov. Eng.]

Gavial Ga"viˇal (gā"vĭ* a l) noun [ Hind. ghariyāl : confer French gavial .] (Zoology) A large Asiatic crocodilian ( Gavialis Gangeticus ); -- called also nako , and Gangetic crocodile .

» The gavial has a long, slender muzzle, teeth of nearly uniform size, and feet completely webbed. It inhabits the Ganges and other rivers of India. The name is also applied to several allied fossil species.

Gavić Ga"vić noun plural [ New Latin , from Latin gavia a sea mew.] (Zoology) The division of birds which includes the gulls and terns.

Gavot Gav"ot noun [ French gavotte , from Gavots , a people inhabiting a mountainous district in France, called Gap .] (Mus.) A kind of difficult dance; a dance tune, the air of which has two brisk and lively, yet dignified, strains in common time, each played twice over. [ Written also gavotte .]

Gawby Gaw"by (ga"bȳ) noun A baby; a dunce. [ Prov. Eng.]

Gawk Gawk (gak) noun [ Middle English gok , gowk , cuckoo, fool, Icelandic gaukr cuckoo; akin to Old High German gouh , German gauch cuckoo, fool, Anglo-Saxon géac cuckoo, Swedish gök , Danish giög ] 1. A cuckoo. Johnson.

2. A simpleton; a booby; a gawky. Carlyle.

Gawk Gawk intransitive verb To act like a gawky.

Gawky Gawk"y adjective [ Compar. Gawkier ; superl. Gawkiest .] Foolish and awkward; clumsy; clownish; as, gawky behavior. -- noun A fellow who is awkward from being overgrown, or from stupidity, a gawk.

Gawn Gawn noun [ Corrupted from gallon .] A small tub or lading vessel. [ Prov. Eng.] Johnson.

Gawntree Gawn"tree noun See Gauntree .

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