Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GAVEL,

fur gable or gable-end. [See Gable.]

GAV'EL, n. [Fr. javelle; Port gavela, a sheaf; W. gavael, a hold or grasp.]

1. A small parcel of wheat, rye or other grain, laid together by reapers, consisting of two, three or more handfuls. New-England
2. In England, a provincial word for ground. Eng. Dict.

GAV'EL, n.

In law, tribute; toll; custom. [See Gabel.]

GAVEL-ET, n.

1. An ancient and special cessavit, in Kent, in England, where the custom of gavelkind continues, by which the tenant if he withdraws his rent and services due to his lord, forfeits his lands and tenements. Encyc.
2. In London, a writ used in the hustings, given to lords of rents in the city. Encyc.

GAV'EL-KIND, n. [This word gavel is Bitish. In W. gavael, signifies a hold, a grasp, tenure; gawel-cenedyl the hold or tenure of a family, [not the kind of tenure.]

gavaelu, w hold, grasp, arrest le. gabhail gabham, to take; gabhailcine, gavelkind. In Ir. gabhal is a fork, [G. gabel,] and the groin, and it expresses the collateral branches of a family; but the Welsh application is most probably the true one.] A tenure in England, by which land descended from the father to all his sons in equal portions, end the land of a brother, dying without issue, descended equally to his brothers. This species of tenure prevailed in England before the Norman Conquest, in many pats of the kingdom, perhaps to the whole realm; but particularly in Kent, where it still exists. Selden. Caned. Blackstone.

GAVE-LOCK, n. [Sax.]

An iron crow.

GA'VI-AL, n.

A species of crocodile, having long, slender muzzles. Mantell.

GAV'I-LAN, n.

A species of hawk in the Philippine Isles; the back and wings yellow; the belly white.

GAV'OT, n. [Fr. gavotte; It. gavottá.]

A kind of dance, the air of which has two brisk and lively strains in common time, each of which is played twice over. The first has usually four or eight bars, and the second contains eight, twelve, or more. Enyr.

GAW'BY, n.

A dunce. [Not in use.]

GAWK, n. [Sax. gaec, geac, a cuckoo; G. gauch, a cuckoo and n fool, an unfledged fop, a chough; Scot. gaukie, a fool; D. gek; Sw, gack, a fool, a buffoon; Dan. gick e jest, a joke. It seems that this word is radically one with joke, juggle, – which see.]

1. A cuckoo.
2. A fool; a simpleton. [In both senses, it is retained in Scotland.]

GAWKY, a.

Foolish; awkward; clumsy; clownish. [In this sense it ie retained in vular use in America.] [Is not this allied to the Fr. gauche, left, untoward, unhandy Eng. awk, awkward; gasodsir, to shrank buck or turn aside, to use shifts, to double, to dodge. This verb well expresses the actions of a jester or buffoon.]

GAWK'Y, n.

A stupid, ignorant, awkward fellow.

GAWN'TREE, n.

A wooden frume on which beer casks are set when tunned.

GAY, a. [Fr. gai; Arm. gae; It. gaio, gay. In Sp. gaya is s stripe of different colors on stuffs; gaytero is gaudy; and gayo is a jay. The W. has gwyc, gay, gandy, brave. This is a contracted word, but whether from the root of gaudy, or not, is not obvious. In some of its applications, it seems allied to joy.]

1. Merry; airy; jovial; sportive; frolicksome. It denotes more life and animation than cheerful. Belinda smiled, and all the world was gay. Pope.
2. Fine; showy; as, a gay dress.
3. Inflamed or merry with liquor; intoxicated; a vulgar use of the word in America.

GAY, n.

An ornament. [Not used.] L'Estrange.

GAY-E-TY, n. [Fr. gaiete; Fr. gaiezza.]

1. Merriment; mirth; airiness; as, a company full of gayety.
2. Act of juvenile pleasure; the gayeties of youth. Denham.
3. Finery; show; as, the gayety of dress.

GAY-LY, adv.

1. Merrily; with mirth and frolick.
2. Finely; splendidly; pompously; as, ladies gayly dressed. a flower gayly blooming. Pope.

GAY-LY-GILD'ED, a.

Gilded with showy finery. Gray.

GAY-NESS, n.

Gayety; finery.

GAY-SOME, a.

Full of gayety. [Little used.]

GAZE, n.

1. A fixed look; a look of eagerness, wonder or admiration; a continued look of attention. With secret gaze, Or open admiration, him behold Milton.
2. The object gazed on; that which causes one to gaze. Made of my enemies the scorn and gaze. Milton.

GAZE, v.i. [Qu. Gr. {foreign} to be astonished, and Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. {foreign} chazah, to see or look, that is, to fix the eye or to reach with the eye.]

To fix the eyes and look steadily and earnestly; to look with eagerness or curiosity; as in admiration, astonishment or in study. A lover's eyes will gaze an eagle blend. Shak. Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? Acts i.

GAZE, v.t.

To view with fixed attention. And gazed awhile the ample sky. Milton. [It is little used as a transitive verb.]

GAZE-FUL, a.

Looking with a gaze; looking intently. Spenser.