Chapter Guido to Gulf Stream of G by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Guido to Gulf Stream

Guido surnamed the Savage (in Orlando Furioso), son of Constantia and Amon, therefore younger brother of Rinaldo. He was also Astolpho's kinsman. Being wrecked on the coast of the Amazons, he was doomed to fight their ten male champions. He slew them all, and was then compelled to marry ten of the Amazons. He made his escape with Aleria, his favourite wife, and joined the army of Charlemagne.

Guido Francischini A reduced nobleman, who tried to repair his fortune by marrying Pompilia, the putative child of Pietro and Violante. When the marriage was consummated and the money secure, Guido ill-treated Pietro and Violante; whereupon Violante, at confession, asserted that Pompilia was not her child, but one she had brought up, the offspring of a Roman wanton, and she applied to the law- courts to recover her money. When Guido heard this he was furious, and so ill-treated his wife that she ran away under the protection of a young canon. Guido pursued the fugitives, overtook them, and had them arrested; whereupon the canon was suspended for three years, and Pompilia sent to a convent. Here her health gave way, and as the birth of a child was expected, she was permitted to leave the convent and live with her putative parents. Guido went to the house, murdered all three, and was executed. (Browning: The Ring and the Book.)

Guildhall The hall of the city guilds. Here are the Court of Common Council, the Court of Aldermen, the Chamberlain's Court, the police court presided over by an alderman, etc. The ancient guilds were friendly trade societies, in which each member paid a certain fee, called a guild, from the Saxon gildan (to pay). There was a separate guild for each craft of importance.

"Gild [guild] signified among the Saxons a fraternity. Derived from the verb gyld-an (to pay), because every man paid his share." - Blackstone: Commentaries, book i. chap. xviii. p. 474 (note).

Guillotine (3 syl.). So named from Joseph Ignace Guillotin, a French physician, who proposed its adoption to prevent unnecessary pain (1738-1814).
    It was facetiously called "Mdlle. Guillotin" or "Guillotin's daughter." It was introduced April 25th, 1792, and is still used in France. A previous instrument invented by Dr. Antoine Louis was called a Louisette (3 syl.).
   The Maiden (q.v.), introduced into Scotland (1566) by the Regent Morton, when the laird of Pennicuick was to be beheaded, was a similar instrument. Discontinued in 1681.

"It was but this very day that the daughter of M. de Guillotin was recognised by her father in the National Assembly and it should properly be called `Mademoiselle Guillotin.'" - Dumas: The Countess de Charny, chap. xvii.

Guinea Sir Robert Holmes, in 1666, captured in Schelling Bay 160 Dutch sail, containing bullion and gold-dust from Cape Coast Castle in Guinea. This rich prize was coined into gold pieces, stamped with an elephant, and called Guineas to memorialise the valuable capture. (See Dryden: Annus Mirabilis.)
   Guinea. The legend is M. B. F. et H. Rex. F. D. B. L. D. S. R. I. A. T. et E. - Magnæ Britainniæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ Rex; Fidei Defensor; Brunsvicensis, Lunenburgensis Dux; Sacri Romani Imperii Archi Thesaurarius et Elector.
    Guinea-pieces = 21s. were first coined in 1663, and discontinued in 1817. The sovereign coined by Henry VII. in 1480 was displaced by the guinea, but recoined in 1815, soon after which it displaced the guinea. Of course, 20s. is a better decimal coin than 21s.

Guinea-dropper A cheat. The term is about equal to thimble-rig, and alludes to an ancient cheating dodge of dropping counterfeit guineas.

Guinea Fowl So called because it was brought to us from the coast of Guinea, where it is very common.

"Notwithstanding their harsh cry ... I like the Guinea-fowl. They are excellent layers, and enormous devourers of insects." - D. G. Mitchell: My Farm of Edgewood. chap. iii. p. 192.

Guinea-hen A courtesan who is won by money.

"Ere ... I would drown myself for the love of a Guinea-hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon." - Shakespeare: Othello, i. 3.

Guineapig (Stock Exchange term). A gentleman of sufficient name to form a bait who allows himself to be put on a directors list for the guinea and lunch provided for the board. (See Floaters.)