Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GIM'LET, v.t.

In seamen's language, to turn round an anchor by the stock; a motion resembling that of the turning of a gimlet. Mar. Dict.

GIM'LET-ING, ppr.

Turning as an anchor round the stock. [Used also as a noun.]

GIM'MAL, a. [L. gemellus, twins.]

Consisting of links. Shak.

GIM'MAL, n.

Some device or machinery. Shak.

GIM'MER, n.

Movement or machinery. [Obs.] More.

GIMP, a. [W. gwymp.]

Smart; spruce; trim; nice. [Not in use.]

GIMP, n. [Fr. guiper, to cover or whip about with silk; Eng. to whip.]

A kind of silk twist or edging.

GIN, n.¹

A contraction of Geneva, a distilled spirit. [See Geneva.]

GIN, n.² [A contraction of engine.]

1. A machine or instrument by which the mechanical powers are employed in aid of human strength. The word is applied to various engines, as a machine for driving piles, another for raising weights, &c.; and a machine for separating the seeds from cotton, invented by E. Whitney, is called a cotton-gin. It is also the name given to an engine of torture, and to a pump moved by rotary sails.
2. A trap; a snare. Milton. Shak.

GIN, v.i.

To begin. [Sax. gynnan.]

GIN, v.t.

1. To clear cotton of its seeds by a machine which separates them with expedition. Trans. of Society of Arts.
2. To catch in a trap.

GIN'GER, n. [It. gengiovo; Sp. gengibre; Port. gengivre; Fr. gingembre; G. ingber; D. gember; Sw. ingefära; Dan. ingefer; L. zinziber; Gr. ζιγγιβερις; Arm. zindibel or singebel; Ar. Pers. and Turk. zingibil or zinjibil; Syr. and Ch. nearly the same.]

A plant, or the root of Zingiber officinale, a native of Gingi in China. The roots are jointed, and the stalks rise two or three feet, with narrow leaves. The flower stems arise by the side of these, immediately from the root, naked and ending in an oblong scaly spike. The dried roots are used for various purposes, in the kitchen and in medicine. Encyc.

GIN'GER-BREAD, n. [ginger and bread.]

A kind of cake, composed of flour with an admixture of butter, pearlash, and ginger, sweetened.

GIN'GER-LY, adv.

Nicely; cautiously. [Not used.] Skelton.

GIN'GER-NESS, n.

Niceness; tenderness. [Not used.]

GING'HAM, n.

A kind of striped cotton cloth.

GIN'GING, n.

In mining, the lining of a mine-shaft with stones or bricks for its support, called steining or staining, which I suppose is from Sax. stan, stone. Cyc.

GIN'GI-VAL, a. [L. gingiva the gum.]

Pertaining to the gums. Holder.

GIN'GLE, n.

1. A shrill clattering sound, or a succession of sharp sounds, as those made by a little bell or by small coins.
2. Affectation in the sounds of periods in reading or speaking, or rather chiming sounds.

GIN'GLE, or JIN'GLE, v.i. [In Pers. zangl is a little bell. In Ch. and Syr. זגא is the same. Qu. its alliance to chink and jangle.]

1. To make a sharp clattering sound; to ring, as a little bell, or as small pieces of sonorous metal; as, gingling half-pence. Gay.
2. To utter affected or chiming sounds in periods or cadence. Johnson.

GIN'GLE, v.t.

To shake so as to make clattering sounds in quick succession; to ring, as a little bell, or as small coins. The bells she gingled, and the whistle blew. Pope.

GIN'GLED, pp.

Shaken so as to ring or make a clattering sound.

GIN'GLING, n.

Act of gingling, as bells.

GIN'GLING, ppr.

Shaking so as to make a clattering sound.

GIN'GLY-MOID, a. [Gr. γιγγλυμος, a hinge, and ειδος, form.]

Pertaining to or resembling a ginglymus,