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gin - What does it mean?

Definition of 'gin'

English

Etymology 1

Abbreviation of geneva or alternatively from (etyl) . Hence Gin rummy (first attested 1941).

Noun

(wikipedia)
  • A colourless non-aged alcoholic liquor made by distilling fermented grains such as barley, corn, oats or rye with juniper berries; the base for many cocktails.
  • (uncountable) gin rummy
  • (poker) drawing the best card or combination of cards
    • Derived terms
    * bathtub gin * sloe gin
    Related terms
    * genever
    References
    * *

    Etymology 2

    Aphetism of (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (obsolete) A trick; a device or instrument.
  • (obsolete) Contrivance; artifice; a trap; a snare.
    • (Chaucer)
    (Spenser)
  • A snare or trap for game.
  • A machine for raising or moving heavy objects, consisting of a tripod formed of poles united at the top, with a windlass, pulleys, ropes, etc.
  • (mining) A hoisting drum, usually vertical; a whim.
  • A pile driver.
  • A windpump.
  • A cotton gin.
  • An instrument of torture worked with screws.
    • Related terms
    * (cotton gin) ginner, ginnery

    Verb

    (ginn)
  • To remove the seeds from cotton with a cotton gin.
  • To trap something in a gin.
  • To invent (via Irish), see gin up

    • Etymology 3

    From (etyl)

    Verb

  • (archaic) To begin.

    • Etymology 4

    From (etyl) dyin, but having acquired a derogatory tone., Australian Aboriginal Words'', Oxford University Press, 1990, ISBN 0-19-553099-3, page 167.

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • An Aboriginal woman.
  • * 1869 , Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia , Volume 1, page 273,
    • His next shot was discharged amongst the mob, and most unfortunately wounded the gin already mentioned ; who, with a child fastened to her back, slid down the bank, and lay, apparently dying, with her legs in the water.
  • * 1988 , Tom Cole, Hell West and Crooked , Angus & Robertson, 1995, p.179,
    • Dad said Shoesmith and Thompson had made one error that cost them their lives by letting the gins into the camp, and the blacks speared them all.
  • * 2008 , Bill Marsh, Jack Goldsmith, Goldie: Adventures in a Vanishing Australia , unnumbered page,
    • But there was this gin there, see, what they called a kitchen girl.
    Synonyms
    * lubra
    Derived terms
    * gin burglar * gin burglary * gin hunter * gin jockey * gin shepherd * gin stealer * gin’s piss
    References

    Anagrams

    * ----

    Similar to 'gin'

    gun, gain, gown, gan, goon, gen, gaon, gean, gon, geon, guan, goin, gein, ginn, goan, gawn