gorget (gorjet)

[OF. gorgette, gorgete, the throat, F. dial. gorgette, a collar, a bib, dim. of gorge, the throat: see gorge, n. Cf. the earlier gorger1.] 1. A piece of armor protecting the IMG:content-2525.jpg:[blocks in formation] 1, Hau e-col ( a ) attached to the brigandine, 15th century. 2, Hau e-col ( a ) worn over mail, early 15th century. (From Viollet-lelet-le Duc's "Dict. du Mobilier français.") throat and sometimes the upper part of the breast. When of chain-mail it usually formed part of the camail, and such a mail gorget remained in use even after the adoption of the breastplate of hammered steel. The plate gorget forms a part of the plastron in the armor IMG:content-2526.jpg:[blocks in formation] one of three sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and Me- Gorgoniade (gôr-gō-ni'a-dē), n. pl. Same as dusa, whose heads were covered with writhing Gorgon i aceæ or Gorgoniida. serpents instead of hair, and the sight of whose gorgon i ant, a. See gorgonean. terrific aspect turned the beholder to stone. gorgonian2 (gôr-gō'ni-an), a. Of or pertaining Only Medusa was mortal, and she alone is to Gorgon i a. meant when the Gorgon is mentioned singly. What new Gorgon's head Have you beheld, that you are all turn'd statues? Fletcher (and another ), Queen of Corinth, v. 2. Worse Than fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceived, Gorgons, and hydras, and chimæras dire. Milton , P. L., ii. 628. Here was the retreat of the Gorgon, with snaky tre es, turning all she looked upon into stone. Sumner, White Slavery. 2. The head of Medusa, after she was killed by Perseus, placed on the shield of Pallas, and, according to the legend, still capable of petrifying beholders; hence, a representation of Medusa's head; a gorgoneion. What was that snaky-headed Gorgon shield, That wise Minerva wore Milton , Comus, 1. 447. As if the dire godde that presides over it [war], with her murderous spear in her hand and her gorgon at her breast, was a coquette to be flirted with. Burke , A Regicide Peace. 3. Something very ugly; specifically, a woman of repulsive appearance or manners. I really came here to buy up all your stock; but that genom, Lady de Courcy, captured me, and my ransom has sent free, a beggar. Disraeli, Young Duke, i. 2. 4. A type of direct-acting marine engine for paddle-steamers. See marine engine, under marine.-5. A name, generic or specific, of the brindled gnu. Also Gorgon i a. II. a. Like one of the Gorgons; pertaining to a gorgon; very ugly or repulsive. Why did'st thou not encounter man for man, And try the virtue of that gorgon face To stare me into statue? Dryden. gorgonean, gorgonian (gôr-gōnē-an, -ni-an), α. [ L. gorgon i us), pertaining to the Gorgon, gorgon .] Like or characteristic of a Gorgon; pertaining to the Gorgon. Medusa with Gorgonian terrour guards The ford. Still the sound Of her gorgonian shield my ears retain, Whilst earnest, striking on its rim her spear, The virgin warrior spake. Glover, A then aid, xi. col. In later days it dwindled in size till it became the small badge of an officer on duty. A shaft which some too lucky hand doth guide, Piercing his gorget , brought him to his end. Gorgonian corals of many species. Nature , XXX. 281. gorgonid (gôr gō-nid), a . Of or pertaining to the family Gorgoniida : as, a gorgonid coral. Gorgonidæ (gôr-gon'i-dē), n . pl. [NL., gonia + -ida .] See Gorgoniida . gorgoniid (gôr-gō'ni-id), n. One of the Gor goniidæ . Gorgoniidæ (gôr-gō-nī'i-dē), n. pl. [NL., Gorgo- niaceæ, formerly conterminous therewith, now variously restricted. Other groups more or le ex- actly the same are known as Gorgon i ada , Gorgonidæ, Gor- goniece, Gorgon in a , and Gorgon inæ. gorgonize gorgonize (gor'gon-iz), v . t .; pret. and pp. gor- gonized , ppr. gorgonizing . gorgon + -ize.] To affect as a Gorgon; turn into stone; petrify. Also spelled gorgonise . Gorgonised me from head to foot With a stony British stare. Tennyson, Maud, xiii. 2. [NL., Gr. Γοργόνη , Γοργώ , Gorgon, + κεφαλή , the Gorgonocephalus (gôr" gō-no-sef'a-lus), n. head.] A genus of eur yale an ophiurians, or branching sand-stars, of the family As trophy tid a : so called from the popular name gor gorgon's head. The genus resembles As trophy ton proper, but is le branched, with the arms narrow at the base, and the discal plates differently arranged.