Selections from Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary: “G”

Edited by Dan Leo, LL.D., Associate Professor of 18th Century Epistemological Studies, Assistant Volleyball Coach, Olney Community College; author of Bozzie and Dr. Sam: Who Filched Mrs. Piozzi’s Cask of Sack? (the Olney Community College Press).

Illustrated by rhoda penmarq (colors by eddie el greco; inking by roy dismas) for “sacred cow productions, ltd”.

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Gabbler A prater; a chattering fellow. Gadfly. A fly that when he stings the cattle make them gad or run madly about. Gaggle. To make noise like a goose. Gallows. A beam laid over two posts, on which malefactors are hanged. Gang. A number herding together; a troop; a company; a tribe; a herd. It is seldom used but in contempt or abhorrence. Oh, you panderly rascals! there's a knot, a gang, a pack, a conspiracy against me. Shakes. Merry Wives of Windsor. Gewgaw. A showy trifle; a toy; a bauble; a splendid plaything. Ghost. 1. The soul of man. 2. A spirit appearing after death. 3. To give up the Ghost. To die; to yield up the spirit into the hands of God. 4. The third person in the adorable Trinity, called the Holy Ghost. Gibcat. An old worn-out cat. I am as melancholy as a gibcat, or a lugg’d bear. Shaksp. Gibe. Sneer; hint of contempt by word or look; scoff; act or expression of scorn; taunt.         Mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns That dwell in ev'ry region of his face. Shakesp. Othello. Gipsy. A vagabond who pretends to foretell futurity, commonly by palmestry or physiognomy. Glory. The felicity of heaven prepared for those that please God. Gonorrhoea. A morbid running of venereal hurts. Goose. A large waterfowl proverbially noted, I know not why, for foolishness. Gormandizer. A voracious eater. Grammaticaster. A mean verbal pedant; a low grammarian. Gynecocrasay. Petticoat government; female power. (Our illustrated adaptation of Boswell’s Life of Johnson will continue next week. This project was made possible in part by a generous grant from Bob’s Bowery Bar™, at the northwest corner of Bleecker and the Bowery: “Bob’s Bowery Bar – perhaps the last unpretentious and reasonably-priced haven for a drinking man or woman in lower Manhattan. Be sure to try Bob’s justifiably famous ‘basement-brewed’ house bock, which I find goes particularly well with ‘Bob’s Mom’s’ excellent Beef Mulligan!” – Horace P. Sternwall, bestselling author of Hack: Memoirs of the Literary Life.) "H"