Gavelock

[A. S. gafeloc, javelin; O. Fr. gavelot; Fr. javelot. A spear. (Prov. Eng.)-An iron crow or lever. Ga'vers, in Ohio, a post-office of Columbiana co. Gaves'ton, PIERS, favorite of Edward II., king of England, was a Gascon by birth, and on account of his father's services to Edward I. was chosen companion to the Prince of Wales. He acquired a complete and very mischievous ascendancy over the prince, corrupting his morals, wasting his resources, and breeding di ension between him and his father. Edward I. banished him in 1307, but dying the same year, Edward II. at once recalled him, made him earl of Cornwall, and gave him in marriage his niece, Margaret de Clare. Intoxicated with his elevation and honors, he became intolerably insolent, and exasperated the nobles. He was again banished, again recalled, and in 1312, the barons having declared war, G. was besieged in Scar borough castle, captured, and executed near Warwick. Ga'via, a mountain of Brazil, in the province of Rio de Janeiro. Ga'vial, n . ( Zool .) A gen. of enormous reptiles, family Crocodilida, distinguished from the crocodile of the Nile and the alligator by the peculiar form of its mouth, the jaws being remarkably long, narrow, and straight, constituting the anterior part or beak, spreading out at its base, and terminating in front so as to remind the observer of the beak of the Spoonbill. The head, properly so called, has its sides straight and perpendicular, the upper surface being quadrilateral; and the mandible, instead of being continued from the forehead by a gradual slope, sinks suddenly to follow a straight and nearly horizontal direction. This powerful animal frequently attains the length of 25 feet; and, from its strength and ferocity, is truly formidable. In one respect, however, it is found very serviceable, viz., in devouring the numerous dead bodies of men and animals which are committed to the "sacred river." tained that the influence of terrestrial magnetism there is nearly as great as it is on earth; that the electricity of the atmosphere increased as they rose, and was always negative; that the hygrometer discovered increased dryne , and that the thermometer sank from 64° Fahr. on the earth, to 51°. He made another ascent alone, and attained an elevation of 41⁄2 miles, where he had great difficulty in breathing, and the thermometer fell to 20o Fahr. After sailing six hours through the atmosphere, he descended at a village 20 m. from Rouen. The result of this aerial flight was the discovery that air obtained at the highest point, was composed of the same elements as that found on the surface of the earth. These experiments brought Gay-Lu ac greatly into notice, and he rose both in fame and position. In 1804 he became a member of the society of Arcueil, and was introduced to Humboldt, with whom he prosecuted an investigation of the polarization of light and other subjects. He also devoted much of his time to the study of chemistry, and to him we are indebted for the discovery of the hydro-sulphuvic and oxy-chloride acids. In 1830 he became a member of the Chamber of Deputies, and in 1839 was created a peer of France. He enjoyed several official appointments, and was profe or of chem istry at the Jardin du Roi. D. at Paris, 1850. Gay-Lus's ite, n . [Named after Gay - Lu ac .] ( Min .) A hydrous compound of the carbonates of lime and soda, found on a small island in Little Salt Lake, Nevada. Crystals, lengthened, prismatic; lustre, vitreous; color, white, yellowish-white, translucent. Sp . gr . 1-92-1-99. Comp. Carb. soda 35-9, carb. lime 33-8, water 30-3. G.-L. has been produced artificially by mixing 8 parts by volume of a saturated sol. of carb. soda with one of a sol. of chloride of calcium. Gav'ot, Gavotte, n . [Fr. gavotte .] A dance consisting of two light lively strains in common time, each being played twice. The first usually contains 4 or 8 bars, and the second 8 or 12, and sometimes more. The 1st strain should close in the dominant or fifth of the key, for it has -Finely; splendidly; pompously. its termination in the tonic or key-note; it is not a gavot , but a rondeau . This dance, introduced upon the stage in the 18th century, was adapted by Gardei to private draw- ing-rooms, in 1794. Its popularity declined early in the 19th century. Gaw'by, n. Same as GABY, q. v. Gawelghur, an elaborately fortified stronghold of Hindostan, in the N. part of the Nizam s dominions, on the crest of a high and rocky hill, 11 m. N.W. of Ellich- pore. In 1803 it was taken by storm by the British under Gen. Wellesley (afterwards Duke of Wellington). Gawk, n. [A. S. geac .] A cuckoo. -A fool; a simpleton; an imbecile. Gaw'ky, a . Awkward; clumsy; clownish; foolish. -n. A person who is awkward and ridiculous, either from over-bigne or stupidity. Gawn, n. [Corruption of gallon .] A small tub, or lad- ing ve el. Gawn'-tree, n . A frame on which casks are set for convenience in drawing; a gauntry; a stillage. Gay, a . [Fr., from Lat. gaudere .] In high spirits; mer- ry; joyous; sportive; gleeful; airy; sprightly; jolly; jovial. "Be linda smiled, and all the world was gay." - Pope. -Fine; showy; gaudy; meretricious. "A virgin that loves to go gay." -Bar . vi. 9. Gay, John, an English poet, born at Barns table, Devon, 1688. In 1711 he published his Rural Sports , which he dedicated to Pope, then a young poet like himself; a compliment that introduced them to each other, and proved the foundation of a friendship which lasted for life. The year following he was appointed secretary to the Duche of Mon mouth. About this time came out his burlesque poem, entitled Trivia , or the Art of Walk ing the Streets of London ; which was succeeded, in 1714, by the Shepherd's Week , a series of Pastorals , in ridicule of Philips. After producing many ingenious and agreeable works, some instances of court favor encouraged Gay'ly, Gai'ly, adv . Merrily; with mirth and frolic. "Gaily dre ed ladies."-Gay. Gay'ne , n. Gayety; finery. Gayo'so, in Mi ouri , a post-village, cap. of Pemiscot co., abt. 310 m. S.E. of Jefferson City. The earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 exhibited their greatest violence in this vicinity. The village was laid out in 1851. Gays'port, in Ohio , a village of Muskingum co., abt. 14 m. S S.E. of Zanesville. Gays'port, in Pennsylvania , a borough of Blair co., on a branch of the Juniata River, opposite Hollidaysburg, abt. 120 m. W. of Harris burg. Gays/ville, in Vermont , a post-village of Windsor co., abt. 3 m. S. by E. of Montpelier. Ga'za, [Heb., strong.] A town in the S.W. of Palestine, is situated about 3 m. from the sea and 50 m. from Jerusalem, on the borders of the desert which separates Palestine from Egypt. It originally belonged to the Philistines, and was a place of importance at the period of the conquest of Canaan by the Israeli tes. It is frequently mentioned in the history of Samson; and after many vici itudes in the wars between the Israeli tes and the Philistines, it was allotted to the tribe of Judah, in whose po e ion it finally remained. In the year 333 B. C., G. was taken by Alexander the Great; and from that period down to 1799, when it was taken by the French under Kleber, it has been the scene of many battles and sieges. The modern town, called Guzzeh, is an entrepot for the caravans pa ing between Syria and Egypt. Pop . abt. 15,000. Gaze, v . n. [A. S. gesean , to look at; allied to Heb. chaza ; Ar. lahaz, to see.] To fix the eyes and look steadily and earnestly; to look with eagerne or curiOsity; to stare; to gaze. "A lover's eyes will gaze an eagle blind."-Shaks. -n. A look of eagerne , wonder, or admiration; a con- tinued look of attention; as, a modest gaze . - The object gazed on; that which causes one to gaze. "Made of my enemies the scorn and gaze ."-Milton. him to employ himself in his well-known Fables, written -v. a. To consider or view fixedly.