subs. (common).—1. A joke; an invention; a hoax.
1823. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. GAG—a grand imposition upon the public; as a mountebank’s professions, his cures, and his lottery-bags, are so many broad GAGS.
1871. All the Year Round, 18 Feb., p. 288. You won’t bear malice now, will you? All GAG of mine, you know, about old Miss Ponsonby.
1885. Daily News, 16 May, p. 5, c. 2. ‘The Mahdi sends you lies from Khartoum, and laughs when you believe them,’ said a native, lately. We need not gratify the Mahdi by believing any bazaar-GAG he may circulate.
2. (theatrical).—Expressions interpolated by an actor in his part: especially such as can be repeated again and again in the course of performance. Certain plays, as The Critic, are recognised ‘gag-pieces,’ and in these the practice is accounted legitimate. Cf., Hamlet, iii. 2: ‘And let those, that play your clowns, say no more than is set down for them.’ Cf., WHEEZE. Fr., la cocotte (specifically additions to vocal scores). A typical example is the ‘I believe you, my boy!’ of the late Paul Bedford. In the quot. under 1851–61, it is probable that GAG = PATTER (q.v.).
1841. Punch, i., p. 105. I shall do the liberal in the way of terms, and get up the GAG properly.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, iii., p. 148. When I go out I always do my own GAG, and I try to knock out something new.
1866. W. D. HOWELLS, Venetian Life, ch. v. I have heard some very passable GAGS at the Marionette, but the real commedia a braccio no longer exists.
1889. Globe, 12 Oct., p. 4, c. 4. In a high-class music hall it is a rule that no song must be sung till it is read and signed by the manager, and this applies even to the GAG.
1890. Pall Mall Gazette, 5 March, p. 4, c. 3. Mr. Augustus Harris pointed out that if the clause were carried the penalty would, in many cases, be incurred twenty times in one scene, for actors and singers were continually introducing GAG into their business.
3. (American).—A commonwealth of players in which the profits are shared round. Cf., CONSCIENCE.
1847. J. M. FIELD, The Drama in Pokerville, p. 124. The ‘artist’ … merely remarking, that he had thought of a ‘GAG,’ himself, which would bring them through, mounted a ladder, and disappeared.
4. (American).—A fool; i.e., a thing to laugh at. For synonyms, see CABBAGE- and BUFFLE-HEAD and SAMMY SOFT.
1838–40. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, p. 46. ‘Sam,’ says he, ‘they tell me you broke down the other day in the House of Representatives and made a proper GAG of yourself.’
5. (Christ’s Hospital).—Boiled fat beef. GAG-EATER = a term of reproach.
1820. LAMB, The Essays of Elia, ‘Christ’s Hospital Five and Thirty Years Ago.’ L. has recorded the repugnance of the school to GAGS, or the fat of fresh beef boiled; and sets it down to some superstition…. A GAG-EATER in our time was equivalent to a goul, and held in equal detestation.
6. (Winchester College).—An exercise (said to have been invented by Dr. Gabell) which consists in writing Latin criticisms on some celebrated piece, in a book sent in about once a month. In the Parts below Sixth Book and Senior Part, the GAGS consisted in historical analysis. [An abbreviation of ‘gathering.’]
1866. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 108. From time to time, also, they had to write … an analysis of some historical work; these productions were called GATHERINGS (or GAGS).
Verb, trs. and intrs. (theatrical).—1. To speak GAGS (q.v.), sense 2. Fr., cascader.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, III., 149. He has to GAG, that is, to make up words.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch. xxxix. The same vocalist GAGS in the regular business like a man inspired.
1883. Referee, 15 April, p. 3, c. 1. Toole … cannot repress a tendency to GAG and to introduce more than is set down for him by the author.
2. (old).—To hoax; to puff.
1781. G. PARKER, A View of Society, II., 154. Having discovered the weak side of him he means to GAG.
1823. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. A showman cries ‘Walk in, ladies and gentlemen, they’re all alive,’ but the spectators soon perceive ’tis all stuff, reproach Mr. Merryman, and he, in excuse, swears he said ‘they were’ and not ‘are alive.’ He thus GAGS the public.
1876. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 325. Then they GAG the thing up, and send their bills out about the immense cost of scenery and dresses, and other expenses they are at, etc.
3. (thieves’).—To inform; to ROUND ON (q.v.); also TO BLOW THE GAG. Cf., GAFF, GAB, etc. For synonyms, see PEACH.
1891. Morning Advertiser, 28 March. She … besought them with (crocodile) tears not to GAG on them, in other words not to give information to the police.
ON THE HIGH GAG, adv. phr. (old).—On the whisper; telling secrets; cf., verb, sense 3.
1823. G. KENT, Modern Flash Dictionary, s.v.
1848. DUNCOMBE, Sinks of London Laid Open, s.v.
ON THE LOW GAG, adv. phr. (old).—On the last rungs of beggary, ill-luck, or despair.
1823. G. KENT, Modern Flash Dictionary, s.v.
1848. DUNCOMBE, Sinks of London Laid Open, s.v.
TO STRIKE THE GAG, verb. phr. (old).—To cease from chaffing.
1839. W. H. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard (ed. 1889), p. 43. ‘A clever device,’ replied Jonathan; ‘but it won’t serve your turn. Let us pass, sir. STRIKE THE GAG, Blueskin.’
