Gavel, gav′el, n. an old Saxon and Welsh form of tenure by which an estate passed, on the holder's death, to all the sons equally.—v.t. to divide or distribute in this way.—ns. Gav′elkind, a tenure now peculiar to Kent by which the tenant at fifteen can sell the estate or devise it by will, the estate cannot escheat, and on an intestacy the lands descend from the father to all sons in equal portions; Gav′elman, a tenant holding land in gavelkind. [A.S. gafol, tribute; cog. with giefan, to give.]
Gavial, gā′vi-al, n. the East Indian species of crocodile, with very long slender muzzle. [Adapted from Hindustani ghariyāl, a crocodile.]
Gavotte, ga-vot′, n. a lively kind of dance, somewhat like a country-dance, originally a dance of the Gavotes, the people of Gap, in the Upper Alps: the music for such a dance.
Gawd, gawd, n. (Shak.). Same as Gaud.
Gawk, gawk, adj. left, as in gawk-handed.—ns. Gawk′ihood, Gawk′iness, quality of being gawky.—adj. Gawk′y, awkward, stupid, ungainly.—n. a lout. [Prob. a contr. of gaulick-, galloc-, gallish-(handed); most prob. not related to Fr. gauche.]
Gay, gā, adj. lively: bright: sportive, merry: wanton, dissipated, of loose life: showy: (prov.) spotted.—adv. (Scot.) fairly, considerably.—ns. Gai′ety, Gay′ety, Gay′ness.—advs. Gai′ly, Gay′ly; Gay′some, gladsome.—Gay science, a rendering of gai saber, the Provençal name for the art of poetry. [O. Fr. gai—Old High Ger. wâhi, pretty, not gâhi, swift (Diez).]
Gayal, Gyal, gī′al, n. a kind of East Indian ox, long domesticated, dark brown in colour, with short curved horns. [Hindi.]
Gay-you, gī′-ū, n. a narrow, flat-bottomed fishing-boat, of two or three masts, used in Annam.
Gaze, gāz, v.i, to look fixedly.—n. a fixed look: the object gazed at—(Spens.) Gaze′ment.—adj. Gaze′ful (Spens.), looking intently.—ns. Gaze′-hound, a hound that pursues by sight rather than scent; Gaz′er, one who gazes; Gaz′ing-stock, a person exposed to public view, generally in a bad sense.—At gaze, in the attitude of gazing. [Prob. cog. with obs. gaw, to stare, Ice. gá, to heed. Some compare the Sw. gasa, to stare.]
Gazebo, gā-zē′bō, n. a summer-house with a wide prospect. [Humorously formed from gaze.]