| Gaenslen, Frederick | <person> U.S. Surgeon, 1877-1937. See: Gaenslen's sign. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| gaff | 1. A barbed spear or a hook with a handle, used by fishermen in securing heavy fish. 2. The spar upon which the upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail is extended. 3. Same as Gaffle. Origin: OE. Gaffe, F. Gaffe an iron hook with which seamen pull great fishes into their ships; cf. Ir. Gaf, gafa hook; perh. Akin to G. Gabel fork, Skr. Gabhasti. CF. Gaffle, Gable. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| gaffer | 1. An old fellow; an aged rustic. "Go to each gaffer and each goody." (Fawkes) Gaffer was originally a respectful title, now degenerated into a term of familiarity or contempt when addressed to an aged man in humble life. 2. A foreman or overseer of a gang of laborers. Origin: Possibly contr. Fr. Godfather; but prob. Fr. Gramfer for grandfather. Cf. Gammer. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Gaffky scale | A numerical rating for the classification of tuberculosis according to the number of tubercle bacilli in the sputum, ranging from 1 (one to four organisms in the whole preparation) to 9 (an average of 100 per field). Synonym: Gaffky scale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gaffky table | A numerical rating for the classification of tuberculosis according to the number of tubercle bacilli in the sputum, ranging from 1 (one to four organisms in the whole preparation) to 9 (an average of 100 per field). Synonym: Gaffky scale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gaffky, Georg | <person> German hygienist, 1850-1918. See: Gaffky scale, Gaffky table. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gag | 1. To retch; to cause to retch or heave. 2. To prevent from talking. 3. An instrument adjusted between the teeth to keep the mouth from closing during operations in the mouth or throat. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gag protein | <molecular biology> The protein of the nucleocapsid shell around the RNA of a retrovirus. (18 Nov 1997) |
| gag reflex | Contact of a foreign body with the mucous membrane of the fauces causes retching or gagging. Synonym: faucial reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gage | 1. A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard. "This plate must be a gauge to file your worm and groove to equal breadth by." (Moxon) "There is not in our hands any fixed gauge of minds." (I. Taylor) 2. Measure; dimensions; estimate. "The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt." (Burke) 3. <machinery> Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the dimensions or forms of things; a templet or template; as, a button maker's gauge. To measure the dimensions of, or to test the accuracy of the form of, as of a part of a gunlock. "The vanes nicely gauged on each side." (Derham) 4. <physics> Any instrument or apparatus for measuring the state of a phenomenon, or for ascertaining its numerical elements at any moment; usually applied to some particular instrument; as, a rain gauge; a steam gauge. 5. Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind; as, a vessel has the weather gauge of another when on the windward side of it, and the lee gauge when on the lee side of it. The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water. 6. The distance between the rails of a railway. The standard gauge of railroads in most countries is four feet, eight and one half inches. Wide, or broad, gauge, in the United States, is six feet; in England, seven feet, and generally any gauge exceeding standard gauge. Any gauge less than standard gauge is now called narrow gauge. It varies from two feet to three feet six inches. 7. The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to accelerate its setting. 8. To measure the capacity, character, or ability of; to estimate; to judge of. "You shall not gauge me By what we do to-night." (Shak) 9. That part of a shingle, slate, or tile, which is exposed to the weather, when laid; also, one course of such shingles, slates, or tiles. Gauge of a carriage, car, etc, the distance between the wheels; ordinarily called the track. Gauge cock, a stop cock used as a try cock for ascertaining the height of the water level in a steam boiler. Gauge concussion, an instrument for measuring the diameter of the bore of a cannon at any point of its length. Steam gauge, an instrument for measuring the pressure of steam, as in a boiler. Tide gauge, an instrument for determining the height of the tides. Vacuum gauge, a species of barometer for determining the relative elasticities of the vapor in the condenser of a steam engine and the air. Water gauge. A contrivance for indicating the height of a water surface, as in a steam boiler; as by a gauge cock or glass. The height of the water in the boiler. Wind gauge, an instrument for measuring the force of the wind on any given surface; an anemometer. Wire gauge, a gauge for determining the diameter of wire or the thickness of sheet metal; also, a standard of size. Origin: Written also gage. (20 Mar 1998) |
| gagging | Contraction of the constrictor muscle of the pharynx elicited by stimulation of sensory receptors on the soft palate, by psychic stimuli, or systemically by drugs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| gaggle | <zoology> A flock of wild geese. Origin: Cf. Gaggle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| gahnite | <chemical> Zinc spinel; automolite. Origin: Named after Gahn, a Swedish chemist. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| gaidic | <chemistry> Pertaining to hypogeic acid; applied to an acid obtained from hypogeic acid. Origin: Gr. Earth. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| gain | <physics> (Amplification) Increase in a signal transmitted from one point to another through an amplifier. (09 Oct 1997) |