adj. (colloquial).—Extravagant; affected or irrational in expression; demonstratively affectionate. Also GUSHINGLY.
1864. ‘The Campaigner’ (No. XVI.), in Fraser’s Magazine, p. 627. Donald did not belong to what, in the slang of translated Cockneys, is called the GUSHING School.
1864. Punch’s Almanack, ‘Our Growling Bard.’
| Some, I admit, are milingtary dears, | |
| As GUSHING ladies say, and some are muffs. |
1872. Sunday Times, 18 Aug. This however, was no surprise to the plaintiff, it having been understood from the first that the parties being past the GUSHING age the letters between them should be of a business character.
1880. OUIDA, Moths, ch. viii. Your heroics count for nothing. All girls of sixteen are GUSHING and silly.
1883. HARGRAVE JENNINGS, quoted in The Saturday Review, 28 April, p. 536, c. 1. Women are not the GUSHINGLY credulous creatures that man in his constant condescension and in his appreciation of himself would deem.
1884. T. A. GUTHRIE (‘F. Anstey’), The Giant’s Robe, ch. xx. ‘It’s not precisely GUSHING,’ he said to himself, ‘but she couldn’t very well say more just yet.’
