GOOSE. A taylor's goose; a smoothing iron used to press
down the seams, for which purpose it must be heated:
hence it is a jocular saying, that a taylor, be he ever so
poor, is always sure to have a goose at his fire. He cannot
say boh to a goose; a saying of a bashful or sheepish
fellow.
GOOSE RIDING. A goose, whose neck is greased, being suspended
by the legs to a cord tied to two trees or high posts,
a number of men on horseback, riding full speed, attempt
to pull off the head: which if they effect, the goose is
their prize. This has been practised in Derbyshire within
the memory of persons now living.
GOOSEBERRY. He played up old gooseberry among them; said of a person who, by force or threats, suddenly puts an end to a riot or disturbance.
GOOSEBERRY-EYED. One with dull grey eyes, like boiled
gooseberries.
GOOSEBERRY WIG. A large frizzled wig: perhaps from a
supposed likeness to a gooseberry bush.
GOOSECAP. A silly fellow or woman.
GORGER. A gentleman. A well dressed man. Mung kiddey. Mung the gorger; beg child beg, of the gentleman.
GOSPEL SHOP. A church.
GOREE. Money, chiefly gold: perhaps from the traffic carried on at that place, which is chiefly for gold dust. CANT.
GORMAGON. A monster with six eyes, three mouths, four arms, eight legs, live on one side and three on the other, three arses, two tarses, and a *** upon its back; a man on horseback, with a woman behind him.