GREEN GOWN. To give a girl a green gown; to tumble her
on the grass.
GREEN SICKNESS. The disease of maids occasioned by celibacy.
GREENHEAD. An inexperienced young man.
GREENHORN. A novice on the town, an undebauched young fellow, just initiated into the society of bucks and bloods.
GREENWICH BARBERS. Retailers of sand from the pits at and about Greenwich, in Kent: perhaps they are styled barbers, from their constant shaving the sandbanks.
GREENWICH GOOSE. A pensioner of Greenwich Hospital.
GREGORIAN TREE. The gallows: so named from Gregory
Brandon, a famous finisher of the law; to whom Sir William
Segar, garter king of arms (being imposed on by
Brooke, a herald), granted a coat of arms.
GREY BEARD. Earthen jugs formerly used in public house for drawing ale: they had the figure of a man with a large beard stamped on them; whence probably they took the name: see BEN JONSON'S PLAYS, BARTHOLOMEW FAIR, &c. &c. Dutch earthen jugs, used for smuggling gin on the coasts of Essex and Suffolk, are at this time called grey beards.
GREY MARE. The grey mare is the better horse; said of
a woman who governs her husband.
GREY PARSON. A farmer who rents the tithes of the rector
or vicar.