gin, a contrivance, ‘engine’. Surrey, tr. of Aeneid ii, 1. 298. See Dict. (s.v. Gin, 2).
ging, a company of people. Merry Wives, iv. 2. 3; B. Jonson, Alchemist, v. 1 (Lovewit); New Inn, i. 1 (Lovel). In prov. use, cp. the Leicester saying, ‘The wull ging on ’em’ (i.e. the whole lot of them), see EDD. (s.v. Gang, 12). ME. ging(e, a company, a following, retinue (Wars Alex., freq., see Glossarial Index); OE. genge, a following (Chron. A.D. 1070).
ginglymus, a joint. Middleton, A Fair Quarrel, iv. 2 (Surgeon). L. ginglymus; Gk. γίγγλυμος, a joint (as of the elbow).
†ginimony. Only in following passage, ‘Here is ginimony likewise burned and pulverised, to be mingled with the juice of lemons, &c.’, Westward Ho, i. 1 (Birdlime). Something used as a cosmetic.
ginniting, a ‘jenneting’, an early apple. Bacon, Essay 46, § 1. See Dict. (s.v. Jenneting).
gird, to strike, smite, pierce; ‘When some sodain stitch girds me in the side’, Bp. Hall, Medit. i, § 92; Palsgrave; girt, pp. smitten, ‘Through girt’, Kyd, Span. Tragedy, iv. 4. 112; to gird forward, to rush forward, Gosson, School of Abuse (ed. Arber, 58). ME. gird, to strike, pierce (Wars Alex. 1219); to rush (id. 1243); see Glossarial Index. See NED. (s.v. Gird, vb.2).
girdle; ‘Would my girdle may break if I do’, Match at Midnight, i. 1 (Tim); ‘I pray God my girdle break’, 1 Hen. IV, iii. 3. 171. The girdle was used to keep up the breeches; see breechgirdle in NED. It also usually had the wearer’s purse hung at it, which would be lost if the girdle broke.
girdle-stead, place for the girdle, i.e. the waist. Chapman, tr. of Iliad, v. 538; Beaumont and Fl., Faithful Friends, iii. 2 (Flavia).
girl, a roebuck in its second year. Turbervile, Hunting, c. 45; p. 143. ME. gerle, Book of St. Albans, fol. E 4, back.
girn, a ‘grin’, a grim smile. Davenant, The Wits, iv (near the end). See [gern].