Gold Coast Corps. A corps in the British service formed of drilled Africans, and officered from the West India regiments. It is kept up for the purpose of protecting the possessions of Sierra Leone and Gambia.
Gold Stick. A title given to the captain of the gentlemen-at-arms, or body-guard of the British sovereign, and to colonels of the Life Guards. When either of the regiments of Life Guards is given to an officer, he is presented by the sovereign with the gold stick. The colonels of the two regiments are in attendance on the sovereign alternately month and month. The one thus on duty is called gold stick in waiting; and all orders relating to the Life Guards are transmitted through him. See [Silver Stick].
Golden Fleece. A celebrated order of knighthood in Austria and Spain, founded by Philip III., duke of Burgundy and the Netherlands, at Bruges, January 10, 1429. The order was instituted for the protection of the Roman Catholic Church, and ranks next after the order of the Garter. The insignia of the Austrian order are a golden fleece hanging from a gold and blue enameled flint-stone emitting flame, and borne in its turn by a ray of fire. On the enameled obverse is inscribed Pretium laborum non vile. The Spanish decoration differs slightly from the Austrian.
Golden Horde. A name given to the Mongolian Tartars, who established an empire in what is now Southeast Russia about 1224, their ruler being Batou, grandson of Genghis Khan. They invaded Russia, and made Alexander Newski grand duke in 1252. At the battle of Bielawisch, in 1481, they were crushed by Ivan III. and the Nogay Tartars.
Gollette (Fr.). A shirt of mail formerly worn by foot-soldiers.
Gonfalon, or Gonfanon. An ensign or standard; colors.
Gonfalonier. A Turkish general and standard-keeper who always precedes the grand seignor during war.
Gong. An Indian and Chinese instrument of percussion, made of a mixture of metals, which produces a very loud, piercing sound on being struck by a wooden mallet. It is used by the Chinese as an instrument of martial music.
Gong Wallas. Militia in India; so called from gong, a village, and wallas, a man.
Goniometer. A general name for angle-measuring instruments.