n. [ See Gorse. ] Gorse. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ OE. gossomer, gossummer, gosesomer, perh. for goose summer, from its downy appearance, or perh. for God's summer, cf. G. mariengarr gossamer, properly Mary's yarn, in allusion to the Virgin Mary. Perhaps the E. word alluded to a legend that the gossamer was the remnant of the Virgin Mary's winding sheet, which dropped from her when she was taken up to heaven. For the use of summer in the sense of film or threads, cf. G. Mädchensommer, Altweibersommer, fliegender Sommer, all meaning, gossamer. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Gossamer spider (Zool.),
a. Like gossamer; flimsy. [ 1913 Webster ]
The greatest master of gossamery affectation. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Geol.) Decomposed rock, usually reddish or ferruginous (owing to oxidized pyrites), forming the upper part of a metallic vein. Called also
a. [ Gossan + -ferous. ] Containing or producing gossan. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Zool.) A small British marine fish (Motella tricirrata); -- called also
n. A gossip. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ OE. gossib, godsib, a relation or sponsor in baptism, a relation by a religious obligation, AS. godsibb, fr. god + sib alliance, relation; akin to G. sippe, Goth. sibja, and also to Skr. sabhā assembly. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Should a great lady that was invited to be a gossip, in her place send her kitchen maid, 't would be ill taken. Selden. [ 1913 Webster ]
My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
The common chat of gossips when they meet. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
Bubbles o'er like a city with gossip, scandal, and spite. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To stand sponsor to. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i.
n. One given to gossip. Beaconsfield. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. Kindred. ] The relationship between a person and his sponsors. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
a. Full of, or given to, gossip. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Scot. garson an attendant, fr. F. garçon, OF. gars. ] A boy; a servant. [ Ireland ] [ 1913 Webster ]
‖n. [ NL., fr. L. gossypion, gossipion. ] (Bot.) A genus of plants which yield the cotton of the arts. The species are much confused. G. herbaceum is the name given to the common cotton plant, while the long-stapled sea-island cotton is produced by G. Barbadense, a shrubby variety. There are several other kinds besides these. [ 1913 Webster ]