Part 446

The gauntlet of the Middle Ages was sometimes of chain mail, sometimes of leather partly covered with plates, scales, etc., of metal sewed to it, and, in the 14th century, became a glove of small steel plates, carefully articulated and covering the whole hand except the palm and the inside of the fingers.

2. A long glove, covering the wrist.

3. (Naut.) A rope on which hammocks or clothes are hung for drying.

To take up the gauntlet, to accept a challenge. -- To throw down the gauntlet, to offer or send a challenge. The gauntlet or glove was thrown down by the knight challenging, and was taken up by the one who accepted the challenge; -- hence the phrases.

Gaunt"lett*ed, a. Wearing a gauntlet.

Gaunt"ly, adv. In a gaunt manner; meagerly.

{ Gaun"tree (?), Gaun"try (?), } n. [F. chantier, LL. cantarium, fr. L. canterius trellis, sort of frame.] 1. A frame for supporting barrels in a cellar or elsewhere. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Engin.) A scaffolding or frame carrying a crane or other structure. Knight.

||Gaur (gr or gour), n. [Native name.] (Zoˆl.) An East Indian species ||of wild cattle (Bibos gauris), of large size and an untamable ||disposition. [Spelt also gour.]

Gaure (gr), v. i. To gaze; to stare. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Gauze (gz), n. [F. gaze; so called because it was first introduced from Gaza, a city of Palestine.] A very thin, slight, transparent stuff, generally of silk; also, any fabric resembling silk gauze; as, wire gauze; cotton gauze.

Gauze dresser, one employed in stiffening gauze.

Gauze, a. Having the qualities of gauze; thin; light; as, gauze merino underclothing.

Gauz"i*ness (?), n. The quality of being gauzy; flimsiness. Ruskin.

Gauz"y (?), a. Pertaining to, or resembling, gauze; thin and slight as gauze.

Gave (gv), imp. of Give.

Gav"el (gv"l), n. A gable. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Gav"el, n. [OF. gavelle, F. javelle, prob. dim. from L. capulus handle, fr. capere to lay hold of, seize; or cf. W. gafael hold, grasp. Cf. Heave.] A small heap of grain, not tied up into a bundle. Wright.

Gav"el, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] 1. The mallet of the presiding officer in a legislative body, public assembly, court, masonic body, etc.

2. A mason's setting maul. Knight.

Gav"el, n. [OF. gavel, AS. gafol, prob. fr. gifan to give. See Give, and cf. Gabel tribute.] (Law) Tribute; toll; custom. [Obs.] See Gabel. Cowell.

Gav"el*et (?), n. [From Gavel tribute.] (O. Eng. Law) An ancient special kind of cessavit used in Kent and London for the recovery of rent. [Obs.]

Gav"el*kind` (?), n. [OE. gavelkynde, gavelkende. See Gavel tribute, and Kind, n.] (O. Eng. Law) A tenure by which land descended from the father to all his sons in equal portions, and the land of a brother, dying without issue, descended equally to his brothers. It still prevails in the county of Kent. Cowell.

Gav"e*loche (?), n. Same as Gavelock.

Gav"e*lock (?), n. [OE. gaveloc a dart, AS. gafeluc; cf. Icel. gaflok, MHG. gabil&?;t, OF. gavelot, glavelot, F. javelot, Ir. gabhla spear, W. gaflach fork, dart, E. glave, gaff] 1. A spear or dart. [R. & Obs.]

2. An iron crow or lever. [Scot. & North of Eng.]

Ga"ver*ick (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The European red gurnard (Trigla cuculus). [Prov. Eng.]

||Ga"viÊ (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. gavia a sea mew.] (Zoˆl.) The ||division of birds which includes the gulls and terns.