1887. Payn, Glow Worm Tales. ‘A Failure of Justice.’ He is best known to the public as a guinea-pig, from his habit of sitting at boards and receiving for it that nominal remuneration, though in his case it stands for a much larger sum.
1889. Drage, Cyril, vii. The rector has, as usual, got the gout, and we live under a régime … of guinea-pigs.
1890. Standard, 26 June, p. 5, c. 4. The least attempt to saddle responsibility for misleading statements upon Boards of Directors would drive prudent, ‘respectable’ men out of what is vulgarly called the guinea-pig business.
3. (nautical).—See quot.
1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, ch. xxvi. While Bramble was questioned by the captain and passengers, I was attacked by the midshipmen, or guinea-pigs as they are called.
Guise’s Geese, subs. phr. (military).—The Sixth Foot or ‘Saucy Sixth.’ [From its Colonel’s name, 1735–63.]
Guiver, subs. (theatrical).—(1) Flattery, and (2) artfulness (q.v.). For synonyms, see Soft Soap.
Adj. (common).—Smart; fashionable; on it (q.v.). Guiver lad = a low-class dandy; also an artful member (q.v.).
a. 1866. Vance, Chickaleary Cove. The stock around my squeeze of a guiver colour see.
Verb (sporting).—To humbug; to fool about (q.v.); to show off.