subs. (colloquial).—A city or district in PHILISTIA (q.v.); often used, like ASKELON (q.v.) for PHILISTIA itself. Hence, TO BE MIGHTY IN GATH = to be a PHILISTINE (q.v.) of the first magnitude; TO PREVAIL AGAINST GATH = to smite the Philistines hip and thigh, as becomes a valiant companion of the Davidsbund; and so forth.
TELL IT NOT IN GATH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—An interjection of derision, signifying that the person exclaimed against has done something the knowledge of which would bring on him the wrath, or the amazement, of his friends.
