Gadwall
(Gad"wall) n. [Gad to walk about + well.] (Zoöl.) A large duck (Anas strepera), valued as a
game bird, found in the northern parts of Europe and America; — called also gray duck. [Written also
gaddwell.]
Gael
(Gael) n.sing. & pl. [See Gaelic.] (Ethnol.) A Celt or the Celts of the Scotch Highlands or of
Ireland; now esp., a Scotch Highlander of Celtic origin.
Gaelic
(Gael"ic) a. [Gael. Gàidhealach, Gaelach, from Gàidheal, Gael, a Scotch Highlander.] (Ethnol.)
Of or pertaining to the Gael, esp. to the Celtic Highlanders of Scotland; as, the Gaelic language.
Gaelic
(Gael"ic) n. [Gael. Gaelig, Gàilig.] The language of the Gaels, esp. of the Highlanders of Scotland.
It is a branch of the Celtic.
Gaff
(Gaff) n. [OE. gaffe, F. gaffe an iron hook with which seamen pull great fishes into their ships; cf.
Ir. gaf, gafa hook; perh. akin to G. gabel fork, Skr. gabhasti. Cf. Gaffle, Gable.]
1. A barbed spear or a hook with a handle, used by fishermen in securing heavy fish.
2. (Naut.) The spar upon which the upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail is extended.
3. Same as Gaffle, 1. Wright.
Gaff
(Gaff), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gaffed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Gaffing.] To strike with a gaff or barbed
spear; to secure by means of a gaff; as, to gaff a salmon.
Gaffer
(Gaf"fer) n. [Possibly contr. fr. godfather; but prob. fr. gramfer for grandfather. Cf. Gammer.]
1. An old fellow; an aged rustic.
Go to each gaffer and each goody.
Fawkes. Gaffer was originally a respectful title, now degenerated into a term of familiarity or contempt when addressed
to an aged man in humble life.
2. A foreman or overseer of a gang of laborers. [Prov. Eng.]
Gaffle
(Gaf"fle) n. [Cf. AS. geafl fork, LG., D., Sw., & Dan. gaffel, G. gabel, W. gafl, Ir. & Gael. gabhal.
Cf. Gaff.]
1. An artificial spur or gaff for gamecocks.
2. A lever to bend crossbows.
Gaff-topsail
(Gaff`-top"sail) n. (Naut.) A small triangular sail having its foot extended upon the gaff
and its luff upon the topmast.
Gag
(Gag) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gagged ; p. pr. & vb. n. Gagging ] [Prob. fr. W. cegio to choke or
strangle, fr. ceg mouth, opening, entrance.]
1. To stop the mouth of, by thrusting sometimes in, so as to hinder speaking; hence, to silence by authority
or by violence; not to allow freedom of speech to. Marvell.
The time was not yet come when eloquence was to be gagged, and reason to be hood winked.
Maccaulay. 2. To pry or hold open by means of a gag.
Mouths gagged to such a wideness.
Fortescue
