Gilderoy’s Kite. To be hung higher than gilderoy’s kite, verb. phr. (old).—To be punished more severely than the very worst criminals. ‘The greater the crime the higher the gallows’ was at one time a practical legal axiom. Hence, out of sight; completely gone.
Giles’ Greek. See St. Giles’ Greek. [[143]]
Gilguy, subs. (nautical).—Anything which happens to have slipped the memory; equivalent to what’s-his-name or thingamytight.
Gilkes, subs. (old).—Skeleton keys.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874). Gilkes or the Gigger, false keyes for the doore or picklockes.
Gill (or Jill), subs. (old).—1. A girl; (2) a sweetheart: e.g., ‘every Jack must have his Gill’; (3) a wanton, a strumpet (an abbreviation of gillian). For synonyms, see Jomer and Titter.
1586–1606. Warner, Albion’s England, bk. vii., ch. 37. The simplest gill or knave.
1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes, Palandrina, a common queane, a harlot, a strumpet, a gill.
1620. Percy, Folio MSS., p. 104. There is neuer a Jacke for gill.
1659. Torriano, Vocabolario, s.v.