Gens d’armes. See [Gendarmes].
Gens de guerre, Fr. men attached to a military profession.
Mes Gens, Fr. an affected phrase, which was formerly used among the French, to signify their servants or attendants. It seems to have been an arrogant and foolish imitation of mon peuple, my people. During the monarchy of France, this term was in much vogue at Paris, and was afterwards adopted by almost all the petits maitres, or coxcombs belonging to the church, state, and army.
Gens de sac et de corde, Fr. an opprobrious term which the French apply to men that deserve chastisement. In former times, the cord or rope, and the sack, were the common instruments and means of punishment. The ropes served to hang up malefactors: and the sack was used to contain their bodies when it was ordained that they should be thrown into a river.
Gens de mer, Fr. sea-faring men.
Gens de l’équipage, Fr. men belonging to the train of artillery.
Gent. Fr. Nation. It is only used in poetry, viz. La gent, qui porte le Turban. The Turkish Nation. In the plural number it is only accepted according to the following significations.
Le droit des Gens, Fr. the rights of nations.
Violer le droit des Gens, Fr. to infringe or violate the rights of nations.
Respecter le droit des Gens, Fr. to respect the rights of nations.