Gift, gift, n. a thing given: a bribe: a quality bestowed by nature: the act of giving.—v.t. to endow with any power or faculty.—adj. Gift′ed, endowed by nature: intellectual.—ns. Gift′-horse, a horse given as a gift; Gift′ling, a little gift.—Look a gift horse in the mouth, to criticise a gift. [Give.]
Gig, gig, n. a light, two-wheeled carriage: a long, light boat: (U.S.) sport, fun.—v.t. and v.i. Gig′git (U.S.), to convey or move rapidly.—ns. Gig′man, one who drives or keeps a gig—a favourite term of Carlyle's for a narrow philistinism based on the possession of a little more money than others, whence Gig′maness, Gigman′ity, Gig′mānia. [M. E. gigge, a whirling thing (cf. Whirligig); prob. related to Ice. geiga, to turn in a wrong direction. Cf. Jig.]
Gigantic, jī-gan′tik, adj. suitable to a giant: enormous—also Gigantē′an.—adj. Gigantesque′, befitting a giant.—adv. Gigan′tically.—ns. Gigan′ticide, the act of killing a giant; Gigantol′ogy, description of giants; Gigantom′achy, a war of giants. [L. gigas, gigantis, a giant, cædĕre, to kill.]
Giggle, gig′l, v.i. to laugh with short catches of the breath, or in a silly manner.—n. a laugh of this kind.—ns. Gigg′ler; Gigg′ling. [M. E. gagelen, to cackle; cf. Ice. gagl, a goose.]
Giglet, gig′let, n. a giddy girl: a wanton—also Gig′lot.—adj. (Shak.) inconstant. [Prob. Ice. gikkr, a pert person; perh. related to gig. See Jig.]
Gigot, jig′ut, n. a leg of mutton. [Fr.,—O. Fr. gigue, a leg: a fiddle; a word of unknown origin.]
Gila monster. See Monster.
Gild, gild, v.t. to cover or overlay with gold: to cover with any gold-like substance: to gloss over: to adorn with lustre:—pr.p. gild′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. gild′ed or gilt.—ns. Gild′er, one who coats articles with gold; Gild′ing, act or trade of a gilder: gold laid on any surface for ornament.—Gilded Chamber, the House of Lords; Gild the pill, to do something to make a disagreeable thing seem less so. [A.S. gyldan—gold. See Gold.]
Gill, gil, n. one of the breathing organs in fishes and certain other aquatic animals: the flap below the bill of a fowl. [Cf. Dan. giælle, a gill; Ice. gjölnar (pl.), gills; Sw. gäl.]
Gill, jil, n. a measure=¼ pint.—n. Gill′-house, a dram-shop. [O. Fr. gelle; cf. Low L. gillo, a flask; allied to Fr. jale, a large bowl, Eng. gallon.]