, a novice].

GUM. "Shaking the gum out of a sail" is said of the effect of bad
weather on new canvas.

GUMPUS. A fish, called also _numscull_, for allowing itself to be
guddled.

GUN. The usual service name for a _cannon_ (which see); it was
originally called great gun, to distinguish it from the small or hand
guns, muskets, blunderbusses, &c. The general construction for guns of
cast metal is fairly represented by the old rule that the circumference
at the breech ought to measure eleven calibres, at the trunnions nine,
and at the muzzle seven, for iron; and in each instance two calibres
less for brass guns. But the introduction of wrought-iron guns, built up
with outer jackets of metal shrunk on one above another, is developing
other names and proportions in the new artillery. (_See_ BUILT-UP GUNS.)
The weight of these latter, though differently disposed, and required
not so much for strength as for modifying the recoil or shock to the
carriage on discharge, is not very much less, proportionally, for heavy
guns of full power, than that of the old ones, being about 1-1/4 cwt. of
gun for every 1 lb. of shot; for light guns for field purposes it is
about 3/4 cwt. for every 1 lb. of shot. Guns are generally designated
from the weight of the shot they discharge, though some few natures,
introduced principally for firing shells, were distinguished by the
diameter of their bore in inches; with the larger guns of the new
system, in addition to this diameter, the weight in tons is also
specified.--_Gun_, in north-country cant, meant a large flagon of ale,
and _son of a gun_ was a jovial toper: the term, owed its derivation to
lads born under the breast of the lower-deck guns in olden times, when
women were allowed to accompany their husbands. Even in 1820 the best
petty officers were allowed this indulgence, about one to every hundred
men. Gunners also, who superintended the youngsters, took their wives,
and many living admirals can revert to kindness experienced from them.
These "sons of a gun" were tars, and no mistake.--_Morning gun_, a
signal fired by an admiral or commodore at day-break every morning for
the drums or bugles to sound the reveille. A gun of like name and nature
is generally in use in fortresses; as is also the _evening gun_, fired
by an admiral or commodore at 9 P.M. in summer, and 8 P.M. in winter,
every night, on which the drums or bugles sound the retreat.

GUN AND HEAD MONEY. Given to the captors of