2. (old).—A bumpkin; a churl; a clumsy hand; a shameless simpleton.
1383. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, 3187–8. Whilom there was, dwelling in Oxenforde, A rich gnof, that gertes helde to borde.
c. 1547. Song (quoted by Hotten). The country gnoffes, Hob, Dick, and Hick, With clubbes and clouted shoon, Shall fill up Dussin Dale With slaughtered bodies soone.
Verb (old).—To wheedle; to cheat; to steal.
Gonophing, subs. (thieves’).—Picking pockets.
1857. Dickens, The Detective Police, in ‘Reprinted Pieces,’ p. 240. From the swell mob, we diverge to the kindred topics of cracksmen, fences … designing young people who go out gonophing, and other ‘schools.’
Gooby, subs. (common).—A simpleton; a blockhead. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
1892. Ally Sloper, 19 Mar., p. 90, c. 3. Why, you old gooby, Mister Sloper will pay us twice as much for the ducks.
Good! subs. (printers’).—An abbreviation of ‘Good Night!’
Adj. (colloquial).—Responsible; solvent; principally now with ‘for’; e.g., He is good for any amount. Also, expert.