1883. Referee, 15 April, p. 3, c. 1. Toole … cannot repress a tendency to gag and to introduce more than is set down for him by the author.
2. (old).—To hoax; to puff.
1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 154. Having discovered the weak side of him he means to gag.
1823. Jon Bee, Dict. of the Turf, etc., s.v. A showman cries ‘Walk in, ladies and gentlemen, they’re all alive,’ but the spectators soon perceive ’tis all stuff, reproach Mr. Merryman, and he, in excuse, swears he said ‘they were’ and not ‘are alive’ He thus gags the public.
1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 325. Then they gag the thing up, and send their bills out about the immense cost of scenery and dresses, and other expenses they are at, etc.
3. (thieves’).—To inform; to round on (q.v.); also to blow the gag. Cf., Gaff, Gab, etc. For synonyms, see Peach.
1891. Morning Advertiser, 28 Mar. She … besought them with (crocodile) tears not to gag on them, in other words not to give information to the police.
On the high gag. adv. phr. (old).—On the whisper; telling secrets; cf., verb, sense 3.
1823. Kent, The Modern Flash Dict., s.v.
1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, etc., s.v.