or gauge, gag, subs. (old).—1. A quart pot (i.e., a measure). Also a drink or GO (q.v.).
1567. HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors (1814), p. 65. A GAGE, a quart pot.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 [Hunterian Club’s Reprint, 1874]. GAGE, a quart pot.
1622. FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush. iii., iv. I crown thy nab with a GAGE of bene-bowse.
1656. R. BROME, A Joviall Crew, Act ii.
| I bowse no lage, but a whole GAGE | |
| Of this I’ll bowse to you. |
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. GAGE, c. A pot or pipe. Tip me a GAGE, c. give me a pot, or pipe.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 12. GAGE, a pot.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. GAGE, a quart pot, also a pint (cant).
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, p. 40. We drank our GAUGE and parted good friends.
2. (18th century).—A chamber-pot.
3. (old).—A pipe.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew (See quot. 1696 under sense 1).
1796. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, Bk. III., ch. v. In the mean time, tip me a GAGE of fogus, Jerry.
4. (American).—A man. For synonyms, see COVE.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon. ‘Deck the GAGE,’ see the man.
