General Bosquet to A
H. Layard on the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava.
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General Issue
The plea of "Not guilty" to a criminal charge; "Never indebted" to a charge of debt; the issue formed by a general denial of the plaintiff's charge.
General Joseph W
Stilwell, U.S. Commander of troops in China.
generalize
A shilling, almost invariably shortened to GEN.
genetic lottery
The chance circumstances of one's birth and genetic inheritance
Geneva Convention
Henri Dunant, a Swiss, published an account of the sufferings of the wounded at the battle of Solferino in 1859.
geneva courage
Pot valour; the braggadocio which is the effect of having drunk too much gin (#.v.), or geneva. Cp. DUTCH COURAGE.
geneva doctrines
Calvinism. Calvin, in 1541, was invited to take up his residence in Geneva as the public teacher of theology. From this period Geneva was for many years the centre of education for the Protestant youths of Europe.
genevan prelate and politician
Byron makes him one of six brothers, all of whom suffered for their opinions. The father and two sons died on the battlefield; one was burnt at the stake; three were incarcerated in the dungeon of Chillon, on the edge of the Lake of Geneva — of these, two died, and Francois, who had been imprisoned for "republican principles" by the Duke-Bishop of Savoy, was set at liberty by "the Bearnais" after four years' imprisonment.
Genie of the Lamp
Also called Castles in Spain; the French call them Chateaux d'Es- pagne or Chateaux en Asie. See CHATEAU.
genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
genius is one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
Genre Painter
A painter of domes- tic, rural, or village scenes, such as A Village Wedding, The Young Recruit, Blind Man's Buff, The Village Politician, etc. In the drama, Victor Hugo introduced the genre system in lieu of the stilted, unnatural style of Louis XIVs era.
gens braccata
Trousered people. The Romans wore no trousers ("breeches") like the Gauls, Scythians, and Persians. Cp. GALLIA BRACCATA.
gent
A contraction of "gentleman,"—in more senses than one. A dressy, showy, foppish man, with a little mind, who vulgarizes the prevailing fashion.
gentle as a lamb
Very gentle and calm in manner or behavior
gentle craft
The art of shoemaking. One of the gentle craft: a shoemaker: so called because once practised by St. Crispin.
gentle giant
A large or powerful person who is also very kind and gentle.
gentle or simple
mild or uncomplicated
gentle sex
Women, regarded as traditionally more compassionate and nurturing.
gentleman commoner
An empty bottle; an university joke, gentlemen commoners not being deemed over full of learning.
gentleman of four outs
In Ireland when a vulgar, blustering fellow asserts that he is a gentleman, the retort generally is, "Yes, a GENTLEMAN OF FOUR OUTS"—that is, without wit, without money, without credit, and without manners.
gentleman of three ins
In debt, in gaol, and in danger of remaining there for life: or, in gaol, indicted, and in danger of being hanged in chains.
gentleman of three outs
That is, without money, without wit, and without manners: some add another out, i.e. without credit.
Gentleman Usher
A court official belonging to one of four classes, viz.: (1) Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber; these are in closest association with the Sovereign, wait on him at chapel, and conduct him in the absence of the Lord Chamberlain. (2) Gentle- men Ushers Daily Waiters, who are headed by Black Rod (#.v.) and officiate monthly by turns in the Presence Chamber. (3) Gentlemen Ushers Quarterly Waiters.
gentleman's master
A highway robber, because he makes a gentleman obey his commands, i.e. stand and deliver.
gentry cove ken
A gentleman's house. CANT.
genuine article
The real thing, not a fake or imitation
geordie
General term in Northumberland and Durham for a pitman, or coal-miner. From the Greek, GEORGE meaning one who works the earth, originally a cultivator; the term has been in use more than a century.
george
Yellow George; a guinea. Brown George: an ammunition loaf.
George Best
The face.
George Cross and Medal
The George Cross is second 9nly to the Victoria Cross. It consists of a plain silver cross, with a medallion showing St. George and the Dragon in the centre. The words "For Gallantry** appear round the medallion, and in the angle of each limb of the cross is the royal cipher. It hangs from a dark blue ribbon.
George I
John Campbell was Commander- in-Chief of his Majesty's forces, and the rebellion was quashed.
George III
Periwig, which has been further corrupted into wig, is a corrupt form of peruke.
George M
Pullman (1832-97) of Chicago. The word is now applied to other luxurious rail- way saloons, and to motor-cars.
German Bible
A final revised edition appeared in 1892.
german comb
The four fingers and thumb. The Germans were the last nation to adopt periwigs; and while the French were never seen without a comb in one hand, the Germans adjusted their hair by running their fingers through it.
german duck
Haifa sheep's head boiled with onions.
German goiter
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
german silver
A silvery-looking alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel. It was first made in Europe at Hildburghausen, in Germany, in the early 1 9th century, but had been used by the Chinese time out of mind.
German virgin
a person who has never had sex
Germans for the Afnka Korps
Borrowed by the British in Libya (hence its name), it became the standard unit of fuel replenishment throughout the Allied armies.
Germany and Austria
It was Diocletian who (about 284) ordained that Cessar should be the
gerroff
Get off.
gert
big
gert lush
Very nice.
geryon's dogs
Gargittios and Orthos. The latter was the brother of Cerberus, but had one head less. Hercules killed both these monsters.
Gesta Romanorum
The tale of the bond is ch. xlviii, and that of the caskets is ch. xcix. Much of the plot is also given in the 14th century // Pecorone of Ser Giovanni; but Shakespeare could not read Italian, there was no translation in his day, and it is more than doubtful whether he ever saw or was aware of it.
Gesta Romanotum
His feast day is July 17th. He is represented in art with a pilgrim's habit and staff. Sometimes he is drawn as if extended on a mat, with a letter in his hand, dying.
gesuip
drunk
get
One of his get; one of his offspring, or begetting.
get a charge out of
to enjoy or take pleasure in something
get a clue
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
get a fix
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
get a grip
Regain control of your emotions or situation.
get a kick out of
to enjoy or find amusement in something
get a leg up
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
get a line on
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
get a move on
to hurry up or start doing something
get a pair
receive a pair of something, usually as a reward or gift
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