2. (common: generally in. pl. = Gallowses).—A pair of braces.
1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xv. Chock-full of spring, like the wire end of a bran new pair of trouser galluses.
1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, p. 168. If I wouldn’t spile his picter bust my boots and gallowses.
1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 431. The braces, which in some parts of the country are called ‘gallowses.’
c. 1852. Traits of American Humor, p. 58. Hole on, dod drot you, wait till I unbutton my gallowses.
1864. James, etc., Italian-English Dict. Gallowses, batilla.
1883. G. A. S[ala], in Ill. Lond. News, Sept. 22, p. 275, c. i. Braces (which, when I was young, used, in the north of England, to be known by the expressive name of gallowses.)
Adv. (old).—Excessively; same as bloody, bleeding, (q.v.), etc. (As adj.) great; uncommon; real.
c. 1551. L. Shepherd. John Bon in Arber’s Garner, Vol. IV., p. 109. Ye, are much bound to God for such a spittle holiness. A gallows gift!
1789. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 120. Some they pattered flash with gallows fun and joking.