guilloche

[Fr., from the name of the inventor or introducer.] Arch.: An ornament of intertwisted bands or interlaced cords, which is made continuous as a fascia. guil-lô-tîne', s. [Fr.] 1. An apparatus for beheading criminals with a single blow, used by the French Government for executing criminals. A form of it was in use in the Middle Ages, but, being improved and re-introduced by Dr. Guillotin at the time of the first French Revolution, it received its present name after him. The following description will explain the apparatus and its mode of use: On a platform about twelve feet square, and seven feet above the ground, are erected the two upright posts between which is suspended the ax. They somewhat resemble a narrow gallows with not more than a foot between the posts. The ax, which is not unlike a hay-knife, though much heavier and broader, is drawn up to the top of the posts, between which it runs in grooves, and is held suspended by a loop in the halyards, pa ed over a button at the bottom. The edge of the ax is IMG:content-0828.png:[merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small] 1. A crime or an offense; a breach of law or duty. "If geniall brands and bed me lot he not To this one gilt per chaunce yet might I yeld." Surrey Virgil's Æneid , iv. IMG:content-0829.png:[blocks in formation] 4. Cognizant of or characterized by guilt; arising from or indicating guilt; conscious of guilt. "She changes as a guilty dream, Goads sleeping Fancy's wild career." Scott : Rokeby, i. 1. *5. Conscious, cognizant, chargeable. *6. Liable to; deserving of; having incurred. IMG:content-0830.png:[blocks in formation] gold and silver at that time was 20s. 8d., about $4.96. At present there is no English coin so called, but the fashion still prevails of quoting prices of some recorded in the same denomination. things in guineas, and subscriptions are frequently "The guinea , so called from the Guinea gold out of which it was first struck, was proclaimed in 1663, and to go for 20s.: but it never went for le than 21s., by tacit and universal consent. ' -Pinkerton : On Medals, vol. ii., § 19. IMG:content-0831.png:[blocks in formation] guin-i-ăd (u as w), s. [GWYNIAD.] gui-pûre', s . [Fr.] 1. A kind of lace in imitation of the antique. Pat terns are cut out of cambric to form the flowers and heavy parts; the open parts are made of stitches. 2. A kind of gimp. guise, *gise, *guyse, *gyse, *guize, s . [Fr. guise , from O. H. Ger. wis a (M. H. Ger. wise ; Ger. guisa ; cogn. with A. S. wise manner, wise.] *1. Manner, way, wise, fashion, style. Bot.: Sorghum vulgare . Called also millet (q: v.). weise )=a way, a guise, a wise; Sp., Port. & Ital. Guinea-current, s . Hydrol. & Geog .: A current running from the north into the Bight or Bay of Benin, on the Guinea coast of Africa. ( Lyell .) IMG:content-0832.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0833.png:[blocks in formation] gui-tar, s. [Fr. guitare, from Lat. cithara; Gr. kithara = a kind of lyre; Ital. chitarra; Sp. guitarra.] Mus.: A stringed instrument, played by plucking or twitching the strings with the right hand, while the left is engaged in forming the notes by "stopping" or pre ing the strings against the frets on the fingerboard. The modern, or Spanish guitar as it is called, has six strings, the three highest of gut, the three lowest of silk, covered with a fine wire. The guitar is chiefly valuable as a portable means of accompaniment, and in the present day it is very generally cultivated. (Stainer & Barrett .) "Till the gay mariner's guitar Is heard, and seen the evening star." Byron: The Giaour.