Gowler, a dog.—North Country Cant. Query, GROWLER.
Gownsman, a student at one of the universities, as distinguished from a TOWNSMAN.
Grab, to clutch, or seize; GRABBED, caught, apprehended.
Grace-card, the six of hearts, so termed in Ireland. A Kilkenny gentleman, named GRACE, being solicited, with promises of royal favour, to espouse the cause of William III., gave the following answer, written on the back of the six of hearts, to an emissary of Marshal Schomberg’s, who had been commissioned to make the proposal to him:—“Tell your master I despise his offer; and that honour and conscience are dearer to a gentleman than all the wealth and titles a prince can bestow.” This would have been a much better story had James II. been a better King, and had he not earned for himself, even among Catholic Irishmen, a disgraceful name, through his craven conduct at the Battle of the Boyne.
Graft, work; “where are you GRAFTING?” i.e., where do you work? “What GRAFT are you at?” what are you doing? Perhaps derived from gardening phraseology; or a variation of craft.
Granny, a knot which will not hold, from its being wrongly and clumsily tied.—Sea.
Granny, to know, or recognise; “do ye GRANNY the bloke?” do you know the man?
Grappling irons, fingers.—Sea.
Grass, “gone to GRASS,” dead,—a coarse allusion to burial; absconded, or disappeared suddenly; also, gone to waste; it is said of wasted limbs that they have “gone to GRASS;” “oh, go to GRASS,” a common answer to a troublesome or inquisitive person,—possibly a corruption of “go to GRACE,” meaning, of course, a directly opposite fate.