G — Gooseberry to Goth (Part 3 of 3)

Gossip A tattler; a sponsor at baptism, a corruption of gossib, which is Godsib, a kinsman in the Lord. (Sib, gesib, Anglo-Saxon, kinsman, whence Sibman, he is our sib, still used.)

"Tis not a maid, for she hath had gossips [sponsors for her child]: yet `tis a maid, for she is her master's servant, and serves for wages." - Shakespeare: Two Gentlemen of Verona, iii.1.

   Gossip. A father confessor, of a good, easy, jovial frame.

"Here, Andrew, carry this to my gossip, jolly father Boniface, the monk of St. Martin's" - Sir Walter Scott: Quentin Durward.

Gossypia The cotton-plant personified.

"The nymph Gossypia heads the velvet sod,
And warms with rosy smiles the watery god."
Darwin: Loves of the Plants, canto ii.

Got the Mitten Jilted; got his dismissal. The word is from the Latin mitto, to dismiss.

"There is a young lady I have set my heart on; though whether she is agoin' to give me hern, or give me the mitten, I ain't quite satisfied." - Sam Slick: Human Nature, p.90.

Gotch A large stone jug with a handle (Norfolk). Fetch the gotch, mor - i.e. fetch the great water-jug, lassie.

"A gotch of milk I've been to fill."
Bloomfield: Richard and Kate.

Goth Icelandic, got (a horseman); whence Woden - i.e. Gothen.

"The Goths were divided by the Dnieper into East Goths (Ostrogoths), and West Goths (Visigoths), and were the most cultured of the German peoples." - Baring-Gould: Story of Germany, p.37.

   Last of the Goths. Roderick, the thirty-fourth of the Visigothic line of kings (414-711). (See Roderick.)