subs. (old).—False dice with a cavity within, which in FULHAMS (q.v.) was filled with lead to give a bias. See also HIGH-MEN and LOW-MEN.
1544. ASCHAM, Toxophilus. What false dyse use they? as dyse stopped with quicksilver and heares, dyse of vauntage, flaues, GOURDS, to chop and chaunge when they liste.
1596. SHAKESPEARE, Merry Wives of Windsor, i. 3.
| Pist. Let vultures gripe thy guts! for GOURD and fullam holds, | |
| And high and low beguiles the rich and poor. |
1616. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Scornful Lady, iv.
| And thy dry bones can reach at nothing now | |
| But GOURDS or nine-pins; pray go fetch a trencher, go. |
