G-Word Definitions
gabardine. | worsted twill |
gabbro. | coarse-grained igneous, calcic plagioclase and pyroxene |
gabelle. | 1790 tax on salt |
gabion. | cylindrical wicker basket filled with earth and stone to build fortifications, dams. |
gad. | rock-breaking tool; cattle prod ("Egad! He gaffed me with a gad!") |
gadoid. | cod and hake ("I could hake a gadoid.") |
gadolinite. | rare-earth mineral |
gadroon. | ornamental band or molding, convex, continuous pattern |
gadwall. | a duck |
Gael. | Scotch, Irish, or Isle of Man |
gaff. | gaff hook; spar used to extend top edge of fore-and-aft sail; gamecocks spur; linemans climbing hook; hoax; harsh abuse (the gaff sail). |
gaffer. | old man; TV lighting technician |
gaff rig. | fore-and-aft sail with upper edge supported by a gaff |
gaff-top-sail | .a light triangular or quadrangular sail set over a gaff |
gahnite. | mineral - ("Oh, man! He's a gahnite!") |
gailardia. | flower |
gainly. | handsome, graceful - (as in ungainly) |
galactopoiesis. | continued production of milk |
galactosemia | hereditary: mental retardation and cataracts (milk in the blood) |
galago. | large round eyes, prominent ears big teeth and long tail |
galengal. | pungent, aromatic roots |
galantine. | stuffed meat served cold with aspic - ("We ate our galantine at the gala galanty show.") |
galanty show. | shadow show |
galatea. | durable cloth, often striped |
Galatea. | ivory statue brought to life by Aphrodite upon pleas from Pygmalion - ("Galatea wore galatea.") |
galax. | evergreen |
galbanum. | gum used for incense and counterirritant |
gale. | 32 to 63 mph. |
gale. | helmet-shaped part (culm) |
galeate. | helmet-shaped |
Galician. | Spanish Galetia |
galilee. | small chapel or porch at western end of some medieval English churches |
galimatis. | gibberish ("He was gibbering galimatis and gammon.") |
galipot. | crude pine turpentine (A gallipot of galipot.) |
gall. | abrasively-induced skin sore |
Galla. | southern Ethiopia and Somali |
galleass. | large, heavily armed three-master Mediterranean 16th, 17th C. |
galleon. | three-master, two or more decks, 15th, 16th C. |
galley. | long tray holding composed type |
galliard. | spirited, lively, gay |
Gallicanism. | restriction of papal control, national semi-autonomy |
galligaskins. | loose (hose and) breeches |
gallimaufry. | salmagundi |
gallinaceous | .domestic fowl |
gallinipper. | large mosquito capable of inflicting painful bite ("gall-nipper') |
gallinule. | wading bird |
gallipot. | small glazed earthenware jar used by druggists |
galliwasp. | lizard |
Galomania. | frenchophile |
galloon. | band or braid made of lace, metallic thread, or embroidery |
gallowglass. | armed Irish mercenary ("From the Western Isles, with kerns and gallowglasses is supplied" - MacBeth). |
galop, galopade. | lively dance ("We galoped through a galliard.") |
galyak. | soft glossy fur from stillborn lamb or kid ("The gal likes to yak.") |
gam. | socialization between whaler |
gambado. | low horse leap with all four feet off ground |
gambado. | riders leggings |
gambier. | resinous, astringent extract (tanning and dyeing) (currier) |
gamboge. | strong yellow, golden yellow resin |
gambusia. | top minnows feeding on mosquito larvae |
gamelan. | S. E. Asia: tuned metal/wooden chine instruments (Javanese) |
gametangium. | organ or cell in which gametes are produced |
gamic. | sexual: requiring fertilization |
gamin. | neglected boy, urchin |
gamine. | neglected girl; impish appeal |
gammer. | elderly woman ("gaffer and gammer") |
gammon. | backgammon victory |
gammon. | nonsense (galimatis). |
gammon. | cured or smoked ham ("How about a gammon ham sandwich?") |
gammon. | to fasten (a bowsprit) to the stem of a ship |
gamogenesis. | Sexual reproduction - Gr.: gamo, (together). |
gamopetalous. | petals partially fused |
gamophilous. | united leaves |
gamosepalous. | sepals partly united |
gamp. | large, baggy umbrella ("A damp gamp") |
ganef., ganof., gonif. | scoundrel, thief (Yiddish) |
gang., gangue. | worthless rock under which valuable minerals are found |
gangrel. | vagabond ("A gang of gangrels."). |
ganister. | used for refractory furnace linings |
ganja. | resinous form of marijuana |
ganoid. | sturgeon and gar |
gantlet. | two railroad tracks overlapped in a narrow defile ("run the gantlet") |
gantline. | rope through a block at a mast top for hoisting |
gantry. | support for barrel on its side; traveling crane gantry |
Gantt chart. | for comparing production rates |
Ganymede. | a Trojan boy of great beauty whom Zeus abducted to be cupbearer to the gods |
gar. | to cause or compel |
garbanzo. | chickpea seed |
garboard. | first strake of planks laid next to a ships keel |
garboil. | confusion, uproar |
garderobe. | wardrobe, private chamber |
Gareth. | King Arthurs nephew |
gargeney. | Old World duck with conspicuously striped head |
Gargantua. | a giant king noted for his prodigious physical and intellectual appetites |
garget. | mastitis of domestic animals |
garibaldi. | loose high-necked blouse patterned after the Red Shirts |
garnierite. | apple-green nickel ore |
garniture. | garnish |
garrison cap. | soft cloth military cap without a visor |
Garrison finish. | winner comes from behind at last minute |
garrote. | iron collar screwed tight |
garth. | grassy quadrangle surrounded by cloisters |
gasconade. | boastfulness, rodomontade |
gasiform. | gaseous |
gaskin. | hind leg of horse between stifle (knee) and hock (tarsal joint of hind leg) |
gas plant. | Eurasia, emits a gas capable of being ignited |
gasser. | well yielding natural gas |
gast. | to frighten ("It was so gastly, I was aghast.") |
gastronome. | Epicurean |
gastrula. | follows blastula |
gat. | inland channel ("He descended the gat to the ghat.") |
gaum. | smudge or smear (shmutz.) |
gaur. | Asiatic bovine (See also "gayal") |
gavage. | tube-feeding (lavage) |
gavelkind. | equal estate to all the heirs ("per stirpes") |
gavel-to-gavel | From start-to-finish |
gavial. | S. Asia: like a crocodile |
gavotte. | French peasant dance like minuet |
gayal. | large bovine Burmese mammal, tufted tail (See also "gaur") |
gazebo. | belvedere |
gazpacho. | chilled soup: tomatoes, onion, green pepper, and herbs |
geanticline. | large upward fold |
geek. | bites head off chicken |
gefilte fish. | chopped fish, crumbs, eggs, seasoning, cooked in broth, served cold in cakes |
gelandesprung. | skiing jump from crouch using both poles |
geld. | Norman the Conqueror's tax on the English landholders |
gelid. | very cold |
gelignite. | guncotton, nitroglycerine, wood pulp, potassium nitrate |
gelt. | money (Yiddish) |
Gemara. | 2nd part of Talmud, commentary on the Mishnah |
geminate. | to arrange in pairs or double |
gentian. | blue flowers; yellow gentian rhizome and roots used as tonic |
gentian violet. | stain |
gentlemen-at-arms. | honor guard of 40 nobleman who attend the British sovereign |
gentle breeze. | between 8 and 12 mph. |
gentrification. | upper-class property restoration of working class homes |
genus. | below family, above species |
geocorona. | outermost mantle of Earths atmosphere |
geoduck. | very large edible clam |
geognosy. | study of the organization and structure of the Earth ("geo-gnosy") |
geoid. | surface of the Earth corresponding to mean sea level |
geomancy. | divination by means of lines and figures |
geometric mean. | the nth root of a product of n factors |
geometrid. | moth |
geomorphology. | study of evolution of landforms |
geophagy. | eating clay |
geophyte. | plant propagating by underground buds |
Geordie. | a guinea |
George. | jeweled figure of St. George killing the dragon (Knights of the Garter); English coin (Henry VIII) with a picture of St. George and the dragon |
georgic. | pertaining to agriculture and rural life; a pastoral poem |
geostrophic. | force (like Coriolis) caused by Earths rotation |
geosyncline. | depression in Earths crust where a lot has been deposited |
geotaxis. | movement in response to gravity |
geotropism. | same thing relating to growth |
gerah. | ancient Hebrew coin and weight unit |
Geraint. | Knight of the Round Table, Enids hubby |
gerent. | ruler or manager |
gerenuk. | African gazelle |
germander. | reddish-purple flowers |
gerund. | a form such as cooking that functions as a noun |
gerundive. | The future passive participle that functions adjectivally and expresses the notion of fitness or necessity; a verbal adjective |
Garyon. | winged monster with three bodies slain by Hercules |
gesso. | plaster of Paris and glue used for low relief and painting ("A gluey gob of gesso.") |
geste. | a notable feat or exploit |
gestate. | carry within the uterus before birth |
gestic. | movement of the body (dance) |
geyserite. | opaline siliceous geyser deposit |
ghat. | broad flight of steps down the bank of a river |
ghazi. | Moslem warrior who has fought the infidel |
ghee. | semi-fluid butter (India) |
Ghibbeline. | aristocrats who fought during Middle Ages for German control of Italy |
ghillie. | a low-cut sports shoe with fringed laces |
giaour. | non-believer, esp., Christian: an infidel |
gib. | machining: a wedge-shaped piece holding a part in place, or a bearing surface |
gibberelic acid. | promotes plant growth |
gid. | ovine disease caused by tapeworm larva |
gigot. | leg of mutton |
gigue. | jig; lively dance |
Gilgamesh. | Sumerian: semi-divine king of Erech and hero. Includes tale of flood |
gill. | half-glass |
gill. | a narrow stream |
gilt . | a young sow that has not farrowed |
gillie. | a professional guide for hunting |
gill net. | vertical net that catches fish by the gills |
gillyflower. | carnation |
gimmal. | a ring made of two interlocked strips |
gimp. | a narrow stiffened braid |
gimp. | limper |
gimp. | spirit |
gink. | man or boy |
girandole. | radiating display/ rotating fireworks; branched candleholder, backed by mirror |
girasol. | fire opal |
gird. | jeer |
Gironde. | moderate Republican party of revolutionary France |
gisarme. | long-shafted halberd with two-edged axe carried by a medieval foot soldier |
glabella. | smooth area between eyebrows just above nose (glabrous) |
glacis. | gentle slope; slope leading down form a fortification |
gladiate. | sword-shaped |
Gladstone. | four-wheeled light convertible carriage (driver and footman) |
glair. | raw egg whites used in glazing |
glaive. | sword, broadsword |
glanders. | equine disease |
glans. | glans penis, glans clitoris (head or tip) |
glassine. | nearly transparent gazed paper |
glass snake. | tail breaks off easily |
Glaubers salt. | sodium sulfate, used as cathartic and in paper making |
glauconite.. | found in greensand and used as water softener, fertilizer |
glazier. | window glass |
gleba. | inside of a puffball |
glebe. | plot of land granted to a clergyman while in office |
glede. | the kite |
gleed. | glowing coal, ember |
gleet. | chronic urethral inflammation |
gleg. | alert and quick to respond |
Glengarry. | woolen cap, creased lengthwise with ribbons at back |
gley. | sticky bluish-gray soil layer formed by excessive moisture |
gliadin. | proteins derived from wheat or rye gluten |
gimp. | narrow braid or cord of fabric (sometimes stiffened) |
glissade. | gliding ballet step; controlled slide |
glissando. | rapid scale |
glochidium. | parasitic mussel larvae |
glogg. | wine, brandy, and sherry, with raisins, almonds and orange peel |
glomerute. | compact flower cluster |
glomerulus. | tuft of capillaries at kidney origin; twisted secretory portion of sweat gland |
Gloria in Excelsis Deo. | Latin doxology forming part of Ordinary of the Mass |
gloriole. | halo, aureole, or numbus |
glory of the snow. | flower |
gloss. | brief explanatory note in margin or between lines of text |
glossal. | pertaining to the tongue |
glossography. | compilation of glossaries |
glost. | a lead glaze used for pottery |
gloxinia. | house plant |
gloze. | to minimize, gloss over |
glucagon. | a pancreatic hormone that raises blood sugar |
glume. | chaffy basal bract on the spikelet of grass |
gluon. | massless, neutral particle that mediates the strong force |
glutaraldehyd.e. | used for tanning leather |
gluteus. | any of the three large muscles of the buttoks |
glyph. | vertical groove in a Doric column; symbolic figure (road sign silhouette) |
glyptics. | art of engraving or carving |
glyptograph. | engraving upon precious stone |
gnar. | growl, snarl |
gnarl. | snarl |
gnathic. | relating to the jaw |
gnathite. | insect jaw |
gneiss. | banded or foliated metamorphic rock, like granite, layered |
gnocchi. | dumplings made of semolina or potato served with grated cheese and sauces |
gnome. | aphorism |
gnomic. | aphoristic |
gnomon. | sundial stylus; figure left after a small parallelogram has been removed from a large parallelogram with which it shared a common corner |
gnosis. | intuitive apprehension of spiritual truths: spiritualism |
goa. | gazelle |
goats rue. | flower |
goatsucker. | nighthawk and whippoorwill |
Gobelin. | tapestry from the Paris Gobelin works. richly pictorial |
goby. | fish |
godevil. | logging sled; railroad handcar; jointed tool for pipeline cleaning, explosive |
Gods acre. | churchyard |
godwit. | wading bird |
goethite | iron ore |
goffer. | to press ridges or pleats; tool; pleated ornamentation |
Goidetic. | branch of Celtic language |
goldbeaters skin. | treated animal membrane used to separate gold being beaten into leaf |
gold bug. | North American beetle |
golden Alexanders. | flower |
golden club. | aquatic plant |
golden eagle. | eagle |
golden eye. | duck |
golden section | 5:3 |
gold-of-pleasure. | plant rich in oil |
goldstone. | adventurine with gold-colored inclusions |
goldthread. | golden roots |
golem. | artificial human endowed with life by supernatural means |
Golgi complex | within cells |
gollard. | wandering medieval student disposed to conviviality, license, & ribald songs |
golliwog. | grotesque black male doll; grotesque person |
gomphosis. | like tooth and its bony socket |
gonadotropic. | stimulating gonads |
Gond. | Dravidian stock |
gonfalon. | banner suspended from crosspiece: Italian city |
Gongorism. | florid, cluttered literary style |
gonidium. | sexually reproductive cell that separates from parental body: colonies |
goniometer. | crystal angles; directional radio receiver |
gonian. | point of the angle on either side of the lower jaw |
gonopore. | reproductive aperture |
goosande. | merganser |
goose egg. | zero: no points have been score |
goosefoot. | weedy plants |
gopher ball. | a pitched ball hit for a home run |
gopherwood. | yellowwood |
gore. | triangular piece of cloth |
gorgorin. | necking of a column |
gorget. | throat armor |
Gorgon. | Stheno, Euryale, Medusa |
gorgonian. | coral |
gorgonize. | to have a paralyzing effect |
Gorgonzola. | Italian cream cheese |
gorp. | trail mix |
gorse. | spiny shrubs |
goshawk. | large hawk |
gosport. | speaking tubes in old airplanes |
gouache. | painting with gum-based opaque water colors |
Gouda. | made from skimmed milk |
gourami. | bright-colored aquarium fish |
gourmandize. | a taste for good food |
gowan. | yellow wildflower |
goy. | gentile |
Graafian follicle | contains maturing ovum |
grabble. | grope |
graben. | depression between two parallel faults |
grace cup. | final toast |
Graces. | Agleia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who dispense charm and beauty |
gracile. | slender, graceful |
gracioso. | Spanish clown or buffoon |
grackle. | blackish birds |
gradin. | one of a series of steps or tiered seats (amphitheater) |
grains of paradise. | cardamon seed |
grama. | grasses |
gramarye. | occult learning, magic |
gramersy. | expression of surprise or gratitude |
gramineous. | relating to grasses |
graminivorous. | feeding on grasses |
grammatology. | study of graphic script |
grampus. | like dolphin; or killer whale |
granadilla. | passion flowers |
grandee. | nobleman of highest rank |
grange. | farmers association; house and outbuildings of a gentleman farmer |
grangerize. | to illustrate a book with illustrations from other books; to mutilate a book by stealing its illustrations |
granite paper. | low proportion of color-mottling fibers |
granolith. | paving stone of crushed granite |
granophyre. | fine-grained granite porphyry |
granulite. | granular metamorphic feldspar, quartz, and garnet |
granuloma. | nodules in ulcerated infections |
grapheme. | letter combinations that represent a single phoneme |
graphitize. | to convert to granite by heating |
grappa. | Italian brandy distilled from pressed-wine residue |
graptolite. | extinct marine animals |
grass snipe. | pectoral sandpiper |
grass widow. | divorced; husband temporarily absent; abandoned mistress; mother of bastard |
gratin. | crumbs and butter, often with grated cheese |
graupel. | precipitation with pellets of snow |
gravamen. | heaviest part of a charge |
grave. | to clean and coat with pitch |
gravelblind. | having minimal vision |
gravure. | printing with etched plates |
grayling. | fish |
graving dock. | ship repair dock |
graywacke. | shale containing dark-gray sandstone |
grazier. | one who grazes cattle |
grazioso. | gradually |
greaser. | Latino; macho male |
greasewood. | spiny shrub |
great auk. | large flightless sea bird |
Great Pyrenees. | dog |
greaves. | shank armor |
grebe. | diving birds |
gree. | superiority |
greenbrier. | cathrier |
greendragon. | plant |
greenlet. | bird |
greenling | fish |
greenockite. | cadmium ore |
greenroom. | offstage waiting room for performers |
greensand. | contains grains of glauconite |
greenshank. | wading bird |
greensickness. | chlorosis |
greenstone. | igneous, containing chlorite, hornblende, or epidote |
gregarine. | parasitic protozoa |
Gregorian calendar. | sponsored by Gregory XIII in 1582 |
Gregorian chant. | Pope Gregory I, 600 AD |
greisen. | quartz and mica |
grenadier. | British Grenadier Guard, Royal Household; soldier w. grenades; fish |
grenadine. | flavoring syrup; thin openwork fabric |
Greshams Law. | bad money crowds out good money |
gresorial. | having legs adapted for walking |
graylag. | graylag goose |
gridiron. | cooking; football; theater overhead |
grifon. | dog |
grift. | boodle; graft |
grig. | lively, bright person |
gris-gris. | African charm |
griise. | young salmon returning from the sea |
grimalkin. | cat; shrewish old woman |
Grimms Law. | tracing changes of languages into German |
grisaille. | painting in shades of gray |
griseous. | mottled or grizzled with gray |
grisette. | working-class girl; cheap gray fabric dress |
grison. | carnivorous mammals |
grith. | sanctuary when in church or on the kings highway |
grivet. | long-tailed African monkey |
groat. | 4-pence piece from 1300s to 1600s |
grog. | rum and water |
grogram. | coarse, stiffened silk, mohair or wool |
gromwell. | plants |
grossgrain. | heavy silk or rayon, narrow horizontal ribs |
gros point. | large needlepoint stitch: 2 vertical and 2 horizontal |
grossularite. | light-green, pink or brown garnet |
grot. | grotto |
grotty. | wretched |
groundling. | cheaper theater seats |
groundmass. | fine grained porphyritic base of porphyritic rock containing phenocysts |
ground pine. | club moss |
ground plum. | low shrub with plum-like edible fruit |
ground rent. | rent for land to be used for building |
groundsel. | plant |
ground swell. | deep rolling waves caused by distant storms |
growler. | a small iceberg; magnetizer/demagnetizer/short circuit detector |
Grub Street. | world of impoverished writers and literary hacks |
grum. | 1. glumgrunion 2. Small fish. |
Gruyere. | cheese |
guacharo. | nocturnal bird, oil used for cooking and lighting |
guaco. | plants, snakebite antidote |
guaiac. | gualicum |
gualicum. | tree, lignum vitae |
guaiacol. | expectorant and local anesthetic |
guan. | like curassows |
guanaco. | like llama |
guanethidine. | treatment for hypertension |
guanine. | DNA base unit |
guar. | legume |
guaranty. | collateral |
guardant. | animal shown on coat of arms |
guard hair. | on belly of animals |
Guarnerius. | violin |
guayule. | source of rubber |
gudgeon. | Eurasian freshwater fish |
gudgeon. | metal journal at the end of a shaft around which a wheel turns, socket into which a pin fits socket for the pintle of a rudder; metal pin joining 2 pieces of stone |
Gidrun | Nibelung kings daughter, Sigurds wife |
Guelph | faction that supported pope and city-states against the Ghibellines |
guenon | long-legged African monkeys |
guerdon | reward, requital |
guidon | military pennant |
guild | plant (lianas, epiphytes, saprophtyes, and parasites) depending on other plants |
guillemot | northern black-and-white sea bird |
guilloche. | two or more interlaced bands giving rounded design |
guimpe. | gimp; short-sleeved blouse, worn with jumper; yoke insert (nuns) |
guinea. | 1 pound, 5 pence |
guinea worm. | threadlike nematode |
guipure. | coarse, large-patterned lace, sans net ground |
gul. | stylized rose motif in oriental rug |
gular. | pertaining to the throat |
gumbo-limbo. | tree |
gules. | red on a blazon, shown by engraved vertical lines |
gumma. | small tumor found in advanced stages of syphilis |
gummosis. | patches of gum on fruit trees resulting from severe weather or infestation |
gumption. | common sense |
Gunnar. | Sigurds brother-in-law, Gidruns brother, Brunhildes husband |
Gunn effect. | microwave oscillations when higher voltage is applied to a semiconductor |
gunwale. | upper edge of a ships side |
Guoyu. | Chinese mandarin |
gurgitation. | whirling motion, ebullition |
Gurkha. | from Nepal |
gurnard. | flying gurnard (fish) |
gurry. | fish offal |
gusset. | triangular-shaped |
gutta. | small, drop-like ornaments on a Doric entablature |
gutta-percha. | waterproofing and electrical insulation |
guttate. | form of drops; spotted by drops |
guttaralize | pronounce gutterally, to velarize (sound w. tongue toward soft palate) |
guyot. | flat-topped seamount |
gymkhana. | athletic contests |
gymnosophist. | naked Hindu ascetics |
gymnosperm. | coniferous trees: seeds not enclosed within an ovary |
gynandromorph. | male and female both |
gynoecium. | female reproductive organs of a flower: pistils |
gyplure. | synthetic sex attractant for gypsy moths |
gypsophelia. | babys breath |
gyro. | pita bread, filled with meat (lamb), onions and tomatoes |
gyrus. | convolution of the brain |