Byron, Don Juan, i. 189 (1819).
Gurney. City visitor to Cedarswamp, making fishing and flirting his business while there. Deserts a country girl, “Lett,” to make love to the new teacher, Miss Hungerford.—Sally Pratt McLean, Cape Cod Folks (1881).
Gurth, the swine-herd and thrall of Cedric of Rotherwood.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).
Gurton (Gammer), the heroine of an old English comedy. The plot turns upon the loss of a needle by Gammer Gurton, and its subsequent discovery sticking in the breeches of her man Hodge.—Mr. J. S., Master of Arts (1561).
Guse Gibbie, a half-witted lad in the service of Lady Bellenden.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).
Gushington (Angelina), the nom de plume of Lady Dufferin.
Gusta´vus Vasa (1496-1560), having made his escape from Denmark, where he had been treacherously carried captive, worked as a common laborer for a time in the copper-mines of Dalecarlia [Da´.le.karl´.ya]; but the tyranny of Christian II. of Denmark induced the Dalecarlians to revolt, and Gustavus was chosen their leader. The rebels made themselves masters of Stockholm; Christian abdicated, and Sweden henceforth became an independent kingdom.—H. Brooke, Gustavus Vasa (1730).
Gus´ter, the Snagsbys’ maid-of-all-work. A poor, overworked drudge, subject to fits.—C. Dickens, Bleak House (1853).
Gusto Picaresco (“taste for roguery”). In romance of this school the Spaniards especially excel, as Don Diego de Mondo´za’s Lazarillo de Tormes (1553); Mateo Aleman’s Guzman d’Alfarache (1599); Guevedo’s Gran Tacano, etc.
Guthrie (John), one of the archers of the Scottish guard in the employ of Louis XI—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.)