gallowglass, galloglass (galoglas)

[ IMG:content-2052.png:[graphic][merged small][merged small] In October the wild kerns and gallowgla es rose, in no mood for sparing the house of Pindarus. Lowell , Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 152. gallow-gra (gal'ō-gras), n. Hemp, as being made into halters for the gallows. [Old slang.] gallows (gal'ōz or gal'us), n. [ galows , galowes , galous , galewes , galwes , rarely or never in sing. gal we , galga , gealga (used in both sing. and pl.), a gallows, gibbet, cro , = OS. gal go = OFries. galga = D. galg = MLG. galge = OHG. gal go , MHG. galge , G. galgen = Icel. galgi = Sw. Dan. galge , a gallows, gibbet, = Goth. galga , cro . In the older languages (Goth., AS., OHG., etc.) the word was used to denote the cro on which Christ suffered.] 1. A wooden frame on which criminals are executed by hanging, usually consisting of two posts and a cro -beam on the top, or of a single post with a projecting arm, from which the criminal is suspended by a rope fastened about his neck: a plural used as a singular, and having the double plural gallowses . Mony toke he that tyme and to toune led, And hong it hom in hast vpon high galowes . Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), 1. 12885, I would we were all of one mind, and one mind good: O, there were desolation of gaolers and gallowses . Shak., Cymbeline, v. 4. 2. A similar contrivance for suspending objects. They exercise themselves with various pastimes; but none more in use, and more barbarous, then the swinging up and downe, as boyes doe in bell-ropes; for which there be gallowses . Sandys , Travailes, p. 44. 3. Naut., same as gallows - bitts. -4. In coal - min ing, a set of timbers consisting of two upright pieces or props and a bar or crown-tree laid acro their tops so as to support the roof in a level or in any other excavation. [North. Eng.]-5. In printing, a low trestle attached to old forms of hand printing-pre es, to sustain the tympan.-6. A central core formed of several cornstalks interlaced diagonally (while uncut) to serve as a stool or support for cut maize which is placed about it in forming a shock. [U. S.]-7. pl. A pair of braces for st the trousers. Also galluses. [Colloq.] supporting A pair of worn jean trousers covered his lower limbs. and were held in place by knit " galluses ," which cro ed the back of his cotton shirt exactly in the middle and disappeared over his shoulders in well-defined grooves. The Century , XXXVI. 895. 8t. A wretch who deserves to be hanged; a gallows-bird. [Rare.] Ros. He [Cupid] hath been five you sand years a boy. Kath . Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too. Shak ., L. L. L., v. 2 gallows Though he be a notable gallows , yet I'll a ure you his master did turn him away, even in this place. Beau , and Fl . , Knight of Burning Pestle, i. 4. To cheat the gallows. See cheat1. gallows (gal'ōz or gal'us), a. [Also gallus; a dial. use of gallows, n., as a word of vague emphasis.] Reckle ; dashing; showy. [Prov. Eng. and U. S.] Look what a gallus walk she's got! A Glance at New York. gallows (gal'ōz or gal'us), adv . [ gallows , a .] Very; exceedingly: as, gallows poor. [Slang.] The fleece come in and got gallers well kicked about the head. H. Kingsley, Raven shoe, xli. gallows-bird (gal'ōz-berd), n. who deserves to be hanged. The famous converted gallows bird good word in lamentable accents. 2443