Gum, gum, n. the firm fleshy tissue which surrounds the teeth: (slang) insolence.—n. Gum′boil, a boil or small abscess on the gum. [A.S. góma, jaws; Ice. gómr, Ger. gaumen, palate.]
Gum, gum, n. a substance which exudes from certain trees and plants, and hardens on the surface, including those containing arabin, bassorin, and gum-resins.—v.t. to smear or unite with gum:—pr.p. gum′ming; pa.p. gummed.—ns. Gum′-ar′abic, a gum obtained from various species of acacia; Gum′-drag′on, tragacanth; Gum′-elas′tic, india-rubber or caoutchouc; Gum′-ju′niper, sandarac.—adj. Gummif′erous, producing gum.—ns. Gum′miness; Gum′ming, act of fastening with gum, esp. the application of gum-water to a lithographic stone: a disease, marked by a discharge of gum, affecting stone-fruit; Gummos′ity, gumminess.—adjs. Gum′mous, Gum′my, consisting of or resembling gum: producing or covered with gum.—ns. Gum′-rash, red-gum; Gum′-res′in, a vegetable secretion formed of resin mixed with more or less gum or mucilage; Gum′-tree, a name applied to various American and Australian trees; Chew′ing-gum (see Chew). [O. Fr. gomme—L. gummi—Gr. kommi; prob. Coptic komē, gum.]
Gumbo, gum′bō, n. the okra or its mucilaginous pods: a soup of which okra is an ingredient, also a dish of okra-pods seasoned: Creole patois in Louisiana.
Gumption, gump′shun, n. sense: shrewdness: common-sense.—adj. Gump′tious. [Doubtless conn. with A.S. gýman, to observe; cf. Goth. gaumjan.]
Gun, gun, n. a firearm or weapon, from which balls or other projectiles are discharged, usually by means of gunpowder—now generally applied to cannon: one who carries a gun, a member of a shooting-party.—v.i. (Amer.) to shoot with a gun.—ns. Gun′-barr′el, the barrel or tube of a gun; Gun′boat, a boat or small vessel of light draught, fitted to carry one or more guns; Gun′-carr′iage, a carriage on which a gun or cannon is supported; Gun′-cott′on, an explosive prepared by saturating cotton with nitric acid; Gun′-fire (mil.), the hour at which the morning or evening gun is fired; Gun′-flint, a piece of flint fitted to the hammer of a flint-lock musket; Gun′-met′al, an alloy of copper and tin in the proportion of 9 to 1, used in making guns; Gun′nage, the number of guns carried by a ship of war; Gun′ner, one who works a gun or cannon: (naut.) a petty officer who has charge of the ordnance on board ship; Gun′nery, the art of managing guns, or the science of artillery; Gun′ning, shooting game; Gun′-port, a port-hole; Gun′powder, an explosive powder used for guns and firearms; Gun′-room, the apartment on board ship occupied by the gunner, or by the lieutenants as a mess-room; Gun′shot, the distance to which shot can be thrown from a gun.—adj. caused by the shot of a gun.—adj. Gun′-shy, frightened by guns (of a sporting dog).—ns. Gun′smith, a smith or workman who makes or repairs guns or small-arms; Gun′stick, a ramrod; Gun′stock, the stock or piece of wood on which the barrel of a gun is fixed; Gun′stone (Shak.), a stone, formerly used as shot for a gun; Gun′-tack′le (naut.), the tackle used on board ship by which the guns are run to and from the port-holes; Gun′-wad, a wad for a gun; Gat′ling-gun, a revolving battery-gun, invented by R. J. Gatling about 1861, usually having ten parallel barrels, capable of firing 1200 shots a minute; Machine′-gun (see Machine).—As sure as a gun, quite sure, certainly; Blow great guns, to blow tempestuously—of wind; Great gun, a cannon: (coll.) a person of great importance; Son of a gun, a rogue, rascal. [M. E. gonne, from W. gwn, a bowl, a gun, acc. to Skeat.]
Gunnel, gun′l, n. Same as Gunwale.
Gunny, gun′i, n. a strong coarse cloth manufactured in India from jute, and used as sacking. [Hind. gon, goní, sacking—Sans. goní, a sack.]
Gunter's scale. See Scale.
Gunwale, Gunnel, gun′el, n. the wale or upper edge of a ship's side next to the bulwarks, so called because the upper guns are pointed from it.
Gurge, gurj, n. (Milt.) a whirlpool. [L. gurges.]