Part 447

Ga"vi*al (g"v*al), n. [Hind. ghaiyl: cf. F. gavial.] (Zoˆl.) A large Asiatic crocodilian (Gavialis Gangeticus); -- called also nako, and Gangetic crocodile.

The gavial has a long, slender muzzle, teeth of nearly uniform size, and feet completely webbed. It inhabits the Ganges and other rivers of India. The name is also applied to several allied fossil species.

Gav"ot (? or ?; 277), n. [F. gavotte, fr. Gavots, a people inhabiting a mountainous district in France, called Gap.] (Mus.) A kind of difficult dance; a dance tune, the air of which has two brisk and lively, yet dignified, strains in common time, each played twice over. [Written also gavotte.]

Gaw"by (g"b), n. A baby; a dunce. [Prov. Eng.]

Gawk (gk), n. [OE. gok, gowk, cuckoo, fool, Icel. gaukr cuckoo; akin to OHG. gouh, G. gauch cuckoo, fool, AS. gÈac cuckoo, Sw. gˆk, Dan. giˆg] 1. A cuckoo. Johnson.

2. A simpleton; a booby; a gawky. Carlyle.

Gawk, v. i. To act like a gawky.

Gawk"y (?), a. [Compar. Gawkier (?); superl. Gawkiest.] Foolish and awkward; clumsy; clownish; as, gawky behavior. -- n. A fellow who is awkward from being overgrown, or from stupidity, a gawk.

Gawn (?), n. [Corrupted fr. gallon.] A small tub or lading vessel. [Prov. Eng.] Johnson.

Gawn"tree (?), n. See Gauntree.

Gay (?), a. [Compar. Gayer (?); superl. Gayest.] [F. gai, perhaps fr. OHG. g&?;hi swift, rapid, G. g‰h, j‰h, steep, hasty; or cf. OHG. w&?;hi beatiful, good. Cf. Jay.]

1. Excited with merriment; manifesting sportiveness or delight; inspiring delight; livery; merry.

Belinda smiled, and all the world was gay.

Pope.

Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed.

Gray.

2. Brilliant in colors; splendid; fine; richly dressed.

Why is my neighbor's wife so gay?

Chaucer.

A bevy of fair women, richly gay In gems and wanton dress!

Milton.

3. Loose; dissipated; lewd. [Colloq.]

Syn. -- Merry; gleeful; blithe; airy; lively; sprightly, sportive; light-hearted; frolicsome; jolly; jovial; joyous; joyful; glad; showy; splendid; vivacious.

Gay, n. An ornament [Obs.] L'Estrange.

Gay"al (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoˆl.) A Southern Asiatic species of wild cattle (Bibos frontalis).

||Gay"di*ang (?), n. (Naut.) A vessel of Anam, with two or three masts, ||lofty triangular sails, and in construction somewhat resembling a ||Chinese junk.

Gay"e*ty (?), n.; pl. Gayeties (&?;). [Written also gaiety.] [F. gaietÈ. See Gay, a.] 1. The state of being gay; merriment; mirth; acts or entertainments prompted by, or inspiring, merry delight; -- used often in the plural; as, the gayeties of the season.

2. Finery; show; as, the gayety of dress.