• GAFF
adj. 1. 19C sl. – excellent, simple
adj. 2. 1930s US gambling sl. – rigged
n. 1. 1500-20 Sc. – a loud, boisterous laugh; a guffaw
n. 2. 1576 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – an elderly man or one whose position entitled him to respect
n. 3. 1753 UK circus usage – a fair or fairground; a place of public amusement
n. 4. L18 sl. – a cheap music hall or theatre
n. 5. 1812 UK sl. obs. – a meeting of gamblers for the purpose of play
n. 6. c1830 US card-sharpers’ sl. – in cards: a ring worn on the forefinger of the dealer, and used in order to deal specific cards to this or that person
n. 7. 1877 obs. – humbug; stuff and nonsense
n. 8. 1877 UK prison sl. obs. – a pretense; an imposture
n. 9. 1880 Sc. obs. – loud, rude talk, impertinence
n. 10. 1893 US sl. – a cheating device
n. 11 19C sl. – a show, an exhibition
n. 12. E19 sl. – an outcry, a noise
n. 13. L19 US sl. – severe treatment, criticism, punishment, or hardship
n. 14. L19 sl. – a place, an area, such as a street
n. 15. L19 sl. – a prison
n. 16. L19 racecourse cant – a race meeting
n. 17. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a crowbar
n. 18. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a hoe
n. 19. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a master, the head of a house; a foreman or overseer
n. 20. 1904 US sl. – mental or physical punishment
n. 21. 1910s sl. – a job, an occupation
n. 22. 1910s sl. – a legitimate job, work
n. 23. 1910s UK criminals’ sl. – a warehouse
n. 24. 1929 UK sl. – police examination or interrogation
n. 25. 1930s sl. – a restaurant
n. 26. 1930s US criminals’ sl. – a crooked casino or similar place designed to fleece innocent victims
n. 27. 1930s sl. – a bar
n. 28. 1930s sl. – a dance hall
n. 29. 1930s sl. – a hotel
n. 30. 1930s US criminals’ sl. – a fraud, a racket
n. 31. 1932 UK sl. – a place of residence; a home, a shop or other place of business; any sort of building
n. 32. 1939 UK sl. – a place chosen for a robbery; the robbery itself
n. 33. 1940s sl. – a club
n. 34. 1940s Irish sl. – news, gossip
n. 35. 1940s US criminals’ sl. – the place in which a confidence trick is carried out, such as a fake bookmaker’s or stockbroker’s office
n. 36. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – boasting
n. 37. 1960s sl. – a gimmick, a hidden trick
n. 38. 1960s UK criminals’ sl. – a prostitute’s room, where she works, but usually does not live
n. 39. 1960s US sl. – the penis
n. 40. 1966 Amer. sl. – unbelievable talk
n. 41. 1969 Amer. dial. – a protuberance or swelling of any kind
n. 42. 1973 US sl. – a device used to hide the shape of a male transvestite’s penis
n. 43. 1996 UK sl. – a prison cell
n. 44. 1999 UK sl. – a location
vb. 1. 1719 Sc. – to laugh loudly and immoderately, to guffaw
vb. 2. 1811 sl. – to cheat or defraud; to swindle
vb. 3. 1812 sl. – to gamble with cards, dice, etc.
vb. 4. 1825 Sc. obs. – to babble, to chatter; to talk loudly and merrily
vb. 6. 1876 Eng. dial. – to jest, to banter; to jeer, to scoff at
vb. 5. M19 sl. – to play or perform in a music hall
vb. 7. L19 US sl. – to tease
vb. 8. 1903 US sl. – to punish someone
vb. 9. 1905 Amer. dial. – to get hold of
vb. 10. 1920s US tramps’ sl. – to stay where one is for too long
vb. 11. 1934 US gambling sl. – to make a game crooked or dishonest, typically to tamper with a fruit machine or roulette wheel
vb. 12. 1970s US college sl. – to endure
vb. 13. 1980s US college sl. – to insult, to ignore
• THE GAFF
n. 1. 1812 UK sl. – any public place of amusement
n. 2. L19 US sl. – a dismissal, ridicule
• GAFFA
n. 1685 Sc. – a loud laugh, a guffaw
vb. 1800 Sc. – to laugh noisily or boisterously; to guffaw
• GAFFAER
n. 1862 Sc. – a loud laugher
• GAFFAW
n. 1685 Sc. – a loud laugh, a guffaw
vb. 1721 Sc. obs. – to laugh heartily or boisterously, to guffaw
• GAFFAWER
n. 1841 Sc. – one who laughs loudly
• GAFFAWINGLY
adv. 1822 Sc. – in a manner causing hearty laughter
• GAFFER
n. 1. 1575 – orig. applied by country people to an elderly man or one whose position entitled him to respect
n. 2. 1589 – an elderly rustic; an old fellow; also, simply, a fellow
n. 3. 1590 – a title of address
n. 4. a1659 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – an employer, a boss, a foreman; a master, a ‘governor’
n. 5. 1742 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a grandfather
n. 6. 18C sl. – a boss or master of a show or circus
n. 7. 1802 Sc. obs. – a loquacious, talkative person, a babbler
n. 8. 1828 UK sl. – a professional or an expert, or a regular player, at toss-halfpenny
n. 9. 1841 – the foreman or overman of a gang of workmen
n. 10. 1863 Eng. dial. – the husband, the head of the house
n. 11. E19 sl. – one who tosses up coins in a gambling game based on guessing heads or tails
n. 12. L19 sl. – one’s father
n. 13. 1900s Anglo-Irish – a boy, a young fellow
n. 14. 1934 pitchmen’s sl. – a fairground superintendent
n. 15. 1965 US sl. – in motorcycle racing: a leader of a racing team
n. 16. 1969 US sl. – a senior electrician in a film unit
n. 17. 1970s sl. – the ‘straight’ front man for any form of fraud or marginal business
n. 18. 1977 US sl. – on the railways: a track crew supervisor
n. 19. 1980s Aust. prison sl. – a dominant prisoner
vb. 1894 Eng. dial. – to act as a head man or overseer; to boss
• GAFFIE
n. 1942 Sc. – a grandfather
• GAFFIN
adj. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – of the weather: lowering, cloudy
n. 1832-46 Sc. – what is given in exchange, a piece of barter
• GAFFING
n. 1. E19 sl. – tossing 3 coins in a hat in order to determine who pays for drinks; he who guesses right is exempt from payment
n. 2. M19 sl. – coin-tossing, pitch and toss
• GAFF JOINT
n. c1925 US criminals’ sl. – a dishonest gambling den
• GAFFLE
n. 1. 1990s African-American sl. – defeat, failure, betrayal
n. 2. 1997 US sl. – in street gambling: a protocol under which the winner shares his winnings with other players
vb. 1. 1900 Amer. dial. – to grasp, to seize; to take hold of an carry; to steal, to shoplift, to swindle; to arrest
vb. 2. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to gad or constantly go about
vb. 3. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to tease; to incommode, to encumber
vb. 4. 1960s US prison sl. – to lock up in solitary confinement
vb. 5. 1970s US sl. – to hoax, to deceive
vb. 6. 1990s US teen sl. – to ruin someone’s plans
vb. 7. 2000s US prison sl. – to place in handcuffs
• GAFFLED
adj. 1. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – silly, foolish
adj. 2. 1990s African-American sl. – dead
adj. 3. 1990s sl. – in an unfortunate condition
• GAFFLER
n. 1990s African-American sl. – a businessman; a thief
• GAFFLE UP
vb. 20C teen & high school sl. – to confuse, to mess up, to hurt
• GAFFMAN
n. 1859 Eng. dial. – the bailiff or superintendent of a farm
• GAFFS
n. 1940s US sl. – crooked dice
• GAFF SHOT
n. 1985 US sl. – in pool: an elaborate shot, esp. an illegal one
• GAFFUS
n. 1967 US sl. – a hypodermic syringe and needle, esp. when improvised
• GAFF WHEEL
n. 20C US sl. – a gambling wheel controlled by the foot of the operator
• GAF-ISAAC
n. 1897 Eng. dial. – a conceited, self-opinionated man
• GAFMENT
n. 1868 Sc. – senseless, foolish talk
• GAFS
n. 1931 Sc. – a snap, a pretended bite of a dog
vb. 1929 Sc. – to eat ravenously, to swallow rapidly, to wolf down, as of a dog
• GAFTER
n. 1880 Sc. – a loud laugh
• GAFTY
adj. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – sly, tricky, cunning, not to be trusted; mischievous, vicious
adv. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – idly
• GAFU
n. 1998 NZ sl. – a colossal mistake; a God Almighty Fuck-Up
• GAG
adj. 1990s sl. – joking
int. 1. 1896 Eng. dial. – a call to geese
int. 2. 1980s US college sl. – an exclamation of disgust
n. 1. 1805 sl. – cheating, fraud, deception, a hoax
n. 2. 1805 sl. – a falsehood, a lie, an invention, a story
n. 3. 1821 UK sl. – a handbill
n. 4. 1821 sl. – the sales talk of a street-seller of broadsides; the ‘patter’ of a beggar
n. 5. 1840 US – a laughingstock; a fool
n. 6. 1863 – a jest, a joke
n. 7. 1866 Sc. – a filthy mass of any substance, liquid, or semi-liquid; mire, mud
n. 8. 1866 Sc. – a large rugged cloud
n. 9. 1890 US sl. – any form of behaviour or practice
n. 10. 1899 American tramps’ sl. – any begging trick
n. 11. M19 sl. – a plan, a scheme
n. 12. M19 sl. – an ad-lib remark
n. 13. L19 sl. – chatter, as in a restaurant or bar
n. 14. L19 UK tramps’ sl. – an account; a begging tale
n. 15. L19 sl. – oratory, speechifying
n. 16. 1900s US sl. – a thing or aspect
n. 17. 1900s US drug culture sl. – narcotic drug addiction
n. 18. Bk1900 Sc. – a cut or crack in the hands; a deep cut or wound
n. 19. 1950 US sl. – in craps: a bet that the shooter will make his even-numbered point in pairs
n. 20. 1958 US sl. – an indefinite prison sentence
n. 21. 1962 US sl. – any artifice employed by a beggar to elicit sympathy
n. 22. 1988 US sl. – in the entertainment business: a stunt
n. 23. 1994 US sl. – a small group of close friends
n. 24. 1996 UK sl. – an event or activity contrived to provide amusement or excitement
n. 25. 1997 US sl. – a quick use of cocaine
vb. 1. c1440 obs. – to strangle, to suffocate
vb. 2. 1587 obs. – to jerk; to strike with a sharp blow; also, to toss up the head
vb. 3. 1599 – to project, to stick out
vb. 4. 1601 – to silence, to prevent from speaking
vb. 5. 1604 obs. – to prop open a window
vb. 6. 1753 UK sl. – to beg
vb. 7. 1781 sl. – to cheat, to act fraudulently, to deceive
vb. 8. 1870 Eng. dial. – to strain or wrench a limb or joint
vb. 9. 1891 UK sl. – to inform against, to betray
vb. 10. E19 sl. – to amuse
vb. 11. M19 sl. – to scold, to nag
vb. 12. M19 sl. – to ad-lib
vb. 13. L19 sl. – to persuade, to boost, to promote
vb. 14. Bk1900 Sc. & N. Ireland – to ridicule
vb. 15. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to tighten, so as to prevent motion
vb. 16. 1910s sl. – to fix a horserace
vb. 17. 1942 – to jest, to joke
vb. 18. 1960s US college sl. – to find disgusting
vb. 19. 1988 US sl. – to panic in the face of a great challenge
vb. 20. 1990s US prison & drug culture sl. – to cheat; to sell fake drugs
vb. 21. 20C US colloq. – to retch, esp. to retch noisily
vb. 22. 20C US colloq. – to choke on food or foreign matter in the throat
vb. 23. 20C US colloq. – to attempt to make oneself vomit by placing an object such as a finger far back in the throat
• GAGA
adj. 1. 1917 sl. – foolish; silly; witless; sentimental about, infatuated
adj. 2. 1920 UK sl. – mad, esp. as a result of senility; eccentric, senile
adj. 3. 1920s sl. – sentimental about, infatuated with
adj. 4. 1928 US sl. – tipsy
adj. 5. 1930s sl. – confused, disoriented
adj. 6. 1930s sl. – sexually aroused
adv. 2000s sl. – madly
n. 1. 1930s sl. – an eccentric or senile person
n. 2. 1940s US homosexual sl. – an inexperienced, immature homosexual
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – love
n. 4. 1960s US homosexual sl. – homosexual foreplay
vb. 1. 1930s US sl. – to act sentimentally
vb. 2. 1990s sl. – to persuade, to ‘sweet talk’
• GAGAGOOTZ
n. 1930s sl. – an eccentric or senile person
• GAGA OVER
adj. 1920s sl. – sentimental about, infatuated with
• GAG-AWFUL
adj. 1981 US college sl. – horrible, terrible
• GAGE
adj. 1950s US drug culture sl. – intoxicated by marijuana
n. 1. c1440 sl. – a quart pot of drink; a pint
n. 2. 1457 – something of value deposited to ensure the performance of some action, and liable to forfeiture in case of non-performance; a pawn, pledge, security
n. 3. 1676 sl. – a pipe; a pipeful of tobacco
n. 4. 17C sl. – any mug or container
n. 5. 1728 UK sl. obs. – an exciseman
n. 6. 1859 US sl. obs. – a man
n. 7. M19 sl. – a small quantity
n. 8. 1932 US criminals’ sl. – alcohol, esp. whisky
n. 9. 1934 US sl. – marijuana
vb. 1. 1489 obs. – to bind as by a formal promise
vb. 2. 1555 obs. – to pledge or pawn; to mortgage the revenues of a country
vb. 3. 1596 obs. – to bind or entangle in
vb. 4. 1599 obs. or arch. – to stake, to wager; to risk, to bet
vb. 5. 1809 Eng. dial. – to harness a horse
vb. 6. 1888 Amer. dial. – to engage
• GAGE BUTT
n. 1938 US sl. – a marijuana fashioned cigarette
• GAGED
adj. 1. 1922 Amer. dial. – engaged to be married
adj. 2. 1930s US sl. – drunk
adj. 3. 1932 US sl. – drug-intoxicated
• GAGEMENT
n. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – an engagement, a fight
• GAGE OF BOWSE
n. 1566 UK sl. obs. – a quart pot of drink
• GAGE OUT
vb. 1996 UK sl. – to become or be sleepy, as a result of marijuana intoxication
• GAGER
n. 1. 18C UK sl. – a rich man
n. 2. 1904 UK criminals’ sl. – a person who disposes of stolen goods
• GAGE-RING
n. 1880 Eng. dial. – an engagement ring
• GAGERS
n. 1. 1859 US sl. – eyes
n. 2. 1998 US drug culture sl. – methcathinone
• GAGES
n. 1. 1562 Sc. obs. – wages
n. 2. 1934 US sl. – marijuana
• GAGE UP
vb. 1930s African-American sl. – to smoke marijuana
• GAGEY
adj. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – of the weather: uncertain, risky, showery
• GAGG
n. 1. 17C sl. – any mug or container
n. 2. M17 sl. – a pipe, a pipeful of tobacco
vb. M18 UK tramps’ sl. – to beg
• GAGGED
adj. 1968 US college sl. – disgusted
• GAGGEE
n. 1819 Sc. – one who is hoaxed or deceived
• GAGGER
n. 1. L16 sl. – a rustic old man; an old bumpkin
n. 2. 1781 sl. – a confidence trickster, a cheat, esp. when telling ‘sob stories’ or posing as a deaf mute; a charlatan, a fraudster
n. 3. 1782 UK sl. obs. – a prison warder or keeper
n. 4. 1823 UK sl. – a player, an actor
n. 5. 1825 Sc. – the under-lip
n. 6. 1839 Eng. dial. – a ‘settler’; a conclusive argument or reply
n. 7. 1866 Sc. – a deep, ragged cut or wound
n. 8. 1866 Sc. – a large, festering sore
n. 9. M19 sl. – a joker
n. 10. Bk1900 Sc. – a large, ugly mass of any substance, liquid or semi-liquid
n. 11. Bk1900 Sc. – a large rugged cloud
n. 12. Bk1900 Sc. – one who practices a hoax or deception
n. 13. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a Nonconformist
n. 14. 1920s US tramps’ sl. – one who pimps his own wife
n. 15. c1930 Sc. – a rough, gurgling sound in the throat
n. 16. 1933 UK sl. – a beggar or street performer of any kind
n. 17. 1940s US criminals’ sl. – a receiver of stolen goods
n. 18. 1940s US tramps’ sl. – a tramp who makes a living by telling stories
n. 19. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an unattractive person
n. 20. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something unattractive
n. 21. 1980s US college sl. – a disgusting person or thing
vb. 1. L18 sl. – to deceive, to take in or impose upon a person
vb. 2. Bk1900 Sc. – to cut or wound deeply with the idea of a ragged edge; to cause to project, swell up
vb. 3. 1891 Sc. – to make a sound in the throat as of one mad with thirst
vb. 4. 19C Brit. sl. – to coit a woman
vb. 5. 1932 UK sl. – to tell the tale, to move to pity
• GAGGER LIP
n. 1820 Sc. – a large, protruding lip
• GAGGERS
int. c1920 Sc. – an exclamation of disgust
n. 1. M19 US sl. – the eyes
n. 2. 1998 US drug culture sl. – methcathinone
• GAGGERY
n. 1819 Sc. – a deception, hoax; the act of deceiving or hoaxing
• GAGGING
adj. 1997 UK sl. – desperately craving something, as a cigarette, drink, or sex
n. 1. 1819 Sc. – a deception, hoax; the act of deceiving or hoaxing
n. 2. 1828 UK sl. obs. – theft of money by pickpocketry to which several men working together have cleverly led up by engaging a man in conversation, taking him to a public-house, and skilfully causing him to disclose how much money he has
n. 3. E19 UK criminals’ sl. – a form of confidence trick, based on persuading a stranger that one is an old, if forgotten, friend
n. 4. L19 beggars’ sl. – begging for money
• GAGGING FOR
adj. 1970s sl. – desperate for
• GAGGING FOR A BLAGGING
phr. 2001 UK sl. – used of banks, etc. that exhibit poor security (‘blagging’ = a robbery with violence)
• GAGGING FOR IT
adj. 1970s sl. – desperate for sex; usually, but not always, of a girl or woman
• THE GAGGING LARK
n. 1936 UK sl. – begging for money
• GAGGIST
n. E19 sl. – a joke-teller
• GAGGLE
n. 1. c1470 – a company of women; used derisively
n. 2. 1642 Eng. dial. – a confused babel of sound or conversation
n. 3. 1668 – chatter, gabble
n. 4. 1908 Sc. – a moist, soft mass; a mess
n. 5. 1942 US sl. – a formation of several military aircraft flying in the same mission
vb. 1. c1553 obs. – to make a noise like geese; to talk volubly, to chatter
vb. 2. 1577 obs. – to express with gaggling or cackling; to babble, to prattle
vb. 3. 1885 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to laugh immoderately; to cackle
vb. 4. 1929 Sc. – to bungle, to mess up; to work with something messy
• GAGGLED
adj. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – daggled, wet or dirtied by mud, etc.
• GAGGLER
n. 1. 1624 – a goose
n. 2. 2003 UK sl. – amphetamines
n. 3. 2003 UK sl. – MDMA
• GAGGLER’S COACH
n. 1797 UK obs. sl. – a ‘hurdle’ for the transportation of a prisoner, generally to the gallows (hurdle – a frame on which traitors were dragged to execution)
• GAGGLING
adj. 1. 1553 – garrulous, chattering
adj. 2. 1892 Sc. – laughing affectedly, giggling
• GAGGY
adj. 1960s US homosexual sl. – sordid, highly distasteful
• GAGING
n. 1890 Eng. dial. – an engagement
• GAG-MAKER
n. 1886 UK sl. – a tramp that begs his way with pitiful tales
• GAG ME!
int. 1982 US sl. – used for expressing disgust
• GAG ME WITH A SPOON!
int. 1982 US sl. – used for expressing disgust
• GAG ON
vb. 1891 UK sl. – to inform on a person, to betray
• GAG OUT
vb. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to project, to stick out
• GAGRISH
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – a loud cry
• GAGSTER
n. 1935 UK sl. – a comedian
• GAG-TOOTH
n. 1585 obs. – a projecting or prominent tooth
• GAG-TOOTHED
adj. 1579 – having a projecting or prominent tooth
• GAGY
adj. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – of the weather: uncertain, risky, showery
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Lexicophilia 