Gig-lamps, subs. (common).—1. Spectacles. For synonyms, see Barnacles.
1848. Bradley, in Letter to J. C. H. Gig-lamps (certainly a university term. I first heard it in 1848 or 1849, long before Mr. Verdant Green was born or thought of).
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 140. You with the gig-lamps, throw us your cigar.
1887. Punch, 30 July, p. 45. Jack's a straw-thatched young joker in gig-lamps.
1892. F. Anstey, Voces Populi. 'At the Tudor Exhibition.' Stop, though, suppose she has spotted me? Never can tell with giglamps.
2. (common).—One who wears spectacles; a four eyes (q.v.). [Popularised by Verdant Green.]
Gigler (or Giglet, Goglet,
Gigle, Gig), subs. (old).—A
wanton; a mistress. Giglet
(West of England) = a giddy,
romping girl; and in Salop a
flighty person is called a giggle.
Cf., Gig, sense 1.
1533. Udal, Floures for Latine Spekynge, fo. 101. What is the matter, foolish giglotte? What meanest thou? Whereat laughest thou?
1567. Harman, Caveat, leaf 22, back. Therefore let us assemble secretly into the place where he hath appoynted to meet this gyleot that is at your house.
1603. Shakspeare, Measure for Measure, v., 1. Let him speak no more: away with those giglots too, and with the other confederate companion.
1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie. Gadrouillette, minx, gigle, flirt.
1620. Massienger, Fatal Dowry, Act. iii. If this be The recompence of striving to preserve A wanton gigglet honest, very shortly 'Twill make all mankind pandars.
1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. Gigglers, wanton women.
Adj. (old).—Loose in word and deed. Also giglet-like, and giglet-wise = like a wanton.
1598. Shakspeare, 1 Henry IV., Act v., Sc. 1. Young Talbot was not born To be the pillage of a giglot wench.
1600. Fairfax, Jerusalem Delivered, vi., 72. That thou wilt gad by night in giglet-wise, Amid thine armed foes to seek thy shame.
Gild, verb. (old).—To make drunk;
to flush with drink.
1609. Shakspeare, Tempest, Act v., Sc. 1. This grand liquor that hath gilded them.
1620. Fletcher, Chances, iv., 3. Is she not drunk, too? A little gilded o'er, sir.
To gild the pill, phr. (colloquial).—To say, or do, unpleasant things as gently as may be; to impose upon; to bamboozle (q.v.).
Gilded Rooster, subs. phr.
(American).—A man of importance;
a howling swell (q.v.);
sometimes the gilded rooster
on the top of the steeple.
Cf., big-bug; big dog of the
tanyard, etc.
1888. New York Herald. We admit that as a metropolis Chicago is the gilded rooster on top of the steeple, but even gilded roosters have no right to the whole corn bin.
Gilderoy's Kite. To be hung
higher than gilderoy's kite,
verb. phr. (old).—To be punished
more severely than the very
worst criminals. 'The greater
the crime the higher the gallows'
was at one time a practical legal
axiom. Hence, out of sight;
completely gone.
Giles' Greek. See St. Giles'
Greek.
