swinging booms of
all descriptions.

GOOSE-WINGS OF A SAIL. The situation of a course when the buntlines and
lee-clue are hauled up, and the weather-clue down. The clues, or lower
corners of a ship's main-sail or fore-sail, when the middle part is
furled or tied up to the yard. The term is also applied to the fore and
main sails of a schooner or other two-masted fore-and-aft vessel; when
running before the wind she has these sails set on opposite sides.

GOOSE WITHOUT GRAVY. A severe starting, so called because no blood
followed its infliction.

GORAB. _See_ GRAB.

GORD. An archaism denoting a deep hole in a river.

GORES. Angular pieces of plank inserted to fill up a vessel's planking
at any part requiring it. Also, the angles at one or both ends of such
cloths as increase the breadth or depth of a sail. (_See_ GORING-CLOTH.)

GORGE. The upper and narrowest part of a transverse valley, usually
containing the upper bed of a torrent. Also, in fortification, a line
joining the inner extremities of a work.

GORGE-HOOK. Two hooks separated by a piece of lead, for the taking of
pike or other voracious fish.

GORGET. In former times, and still amongst some foreign troops, a gilt
badge of a crescent shape, suspended from the neck, and hanging on the
breast, worn by officers on duty.

GORING, OR GORING-CLOTH. That part of the skirts of a sail cut on the
bias, where it gradually widens from the upper part down to the clues.
(_See_ SAIL.)

GORMAW. A coast name for the cormorant.

GORSE. Heath or furze for breaming a vessel's bottom.

GO SLOW. The order to the engineer to cut off steam without stopping the
play of the engine.

GOSSOON. A silly awkward lout.

GOTE. _See_ GUTTER.

GOUGING. In ship-building (_see_ SNAIL-CREEPING). Also, a cruel practice
in one or two American states, now extremely rare, in which a man's eye
was squeezed out by his rival's thumb-nail, the fingers being entangled
in the hair for the necessary purchase.

GOUGINGS. A synonym of _gudgeons_ (which see).

GOUKMEY. One of the names in the north for the gray gurnard.

GOULET. Any narrow entrance to a creek or harbour, as the _goletta_ at
Tunis.

GOURIES. The garbage of salmon.

GOVERNMENT. Generally means the constitution of our country as exercised
under the legislature of king or queen, lords, and commons.

GOVERNOR. An officer placed by royal commission in command of a
fortress, town, or colony. Governors are also appointed to i