Chapter Galesus to Gamaheu of G by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Gallicism (g hard). A phrase or sentence constructed after the French idiom; as, "when you shall have returned home you will find a letter on your table." Government documents are especially guilty of this fault. In St. Matt. xv. 32 is a Gallicism: "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat." (Compare St. Mark viii. 2.)

Gallicum Merleburgæ French of "Stratford atte Bowe."

"There is a spring which (so they say), if anyone tastes, he murders his French [Gallice barbarizat]; so that when anyone speaks that language ill, we say he speaks the French of Marlborough [Gallicum Merleburgæ]." - Walter Map.

Galligantus A giant who lived with Hocus-Pocus in an enchanted castle. By his magic he changed men and women into dumb animals, amongst which was a duke's daughter, changed into a roe. Jack the Giant Killer, arrayed in his cap, which rendered him invisible, went to the castle and read the inscription: "Whoever can this trumpet blow, will cause the giant's overthrow." He seized the trumpet, blew a loud blast, the castle fell down, Jack slew the giant, and was married soon after to the duke's daughter, whom he had rescued from the giant's castle. (Jack the Giant Killer.)

Gallimaufry (See Galimaufrey.)

Gallipot (g hard) means a glazed pot, as galletyles (3 syl.) means glazed tiles. (Dutch, gleipot, glazed pot.) In farce and jest it forms a by-name for an apothecary.

Gallo-Belgicus. An annual register in Latin for European circulation, first published in 1598.

"It is believed,
And told for news with as much diligence
As if 'twere writ in Gallo-Belgicus."
Thomas May: The Heir. (1615.)

Galloon (See Caddice.)

Galloway (g hard). A horse less than fifteen hands high, of the breed which originally came from Galloway in Scotland.

"Thrust him downstairs! Know we not Galloway nags?" - Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV., ii. 4.

"The knights and esquires are well mounted on large bay horses, the common people on little Galloways." - S. Lanier: Boy's Froissart, book i. chap. xiv. p. 25.

Gallowglass An armed servitor (or foot-soldier) of an ancient Irish chief.

Gallus Numidicus (A). A turkey cock. Our common turkey comes neither from Turkey nor Numidia, but from North America.

"And bedecked in borrowed plumage, he struts over his pages as solemnly as any old Gallus Numidicus over the farmyard." - Fra. Ollie (1885).

Galore (2 syl., hard). A sailor's term, meaning "in abundance." (Irish, go leor, in abundance.)
   For his Poll he had trinkets and gold galore,
   Besides of prize-money quite a store."
   Jack Robinson.

Galvanism (g hard). So called from Louis Galvani, of Bologna. Signora Galvani in 1790 had frog-soup prescribed for her diet, and one day some skinned frogs which happened to be placed near an electric machine in motion exhibited signs of vitality. This strange phenomenon excited the curiosity of the experimenter, who subsequently noticed that similar convulsive effects were produced when the copper hooks on which the frogs were strung were suspended on the iron hook of the larder. Experiments being carefully conducted, soon led to the discovery of this important science.

Galway Jury An enlightened, independent jury. The expression has its birth in certain trials held in Ireland in 1635 upon the right of the king to the counties of Ireland. Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo and Mayo, gave judgment in favour of the Crown, but Galway opposed it; whereupon the sheriff was fined £1,000, and each of the jurors £4,000.

Gam (See Ganelon.)