subs. (colloquial).—A married man; in America one not living with his wife; a GRASS-WIDOWER (q.v.).
Verb. (old).—To ramble; to waddle (as a goose). Also, to go in quest of women; TO GROUSE (q.v.).
1859. H. KINGSLEY, Recollections of Geoffry Hamlyn, ch. x. Nell might come GANDERING back in one of her tantrums. Ibid. (1861), Ravenshoe, ch. xlvii. She GANDERED upstairs to the dressing-room again.
GONE GANDER.—See GONE COON.
TO SEE HOW THE GANDER HOPS, verb. phr. (American).—To watch events. A variant of To see how the cat jumps.
1843. W. T. PORTER, ed., The Big Bear of Arkansas, etc., p. 96. SEEIN’ HOW THE GANDER HOPPED I jumped up and hollered, Git out, Tromp, you old raskel!
WHAT’S SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS SAUCE FOR THE GANDER, phr. (common).—A plea for consistency.
