| 释义 |
▪ I. gigman1|ˈgɪgmən|
[f. gig n.2 + man.]
One who keeps or uses a gig; whimsically used by Carlyle for one whose respectability is measured by his keeping a gig; a narrow-minded person belonging to the middle class, who views ‘respectability’ as the chief concern of life, a ‘Philistine’.
Invented by Carlyle, who gives (Miscell. (1857) III. 56) the following quotation in explanation of its origin. ‘Q. What do you mean by ‘respectable’? A. He always kept a gig. (Thurtell's trial).’ This is taken from Q. Rev. XXXVII. (1828) 15, where the writer says ‘We quote from memory’. In the Times report of the trial (3 Nov. 1823) the passage reads: ‘He always maintained an appearance of respectability, and kept his horse and gig.’
1830Carlyle Misc. (1857) II. 144 This was not a nobleman, or gentleman, or gigman, but simply a man! 1840Hood Up the Rhine 5 The doctor, be it said, is a respectable gigman, who also likes a fast horse. 1884R. Buchanan in Harper's Mag. Sept. 603/2 The gigman..spells God with a little ‘g’.
Hence many nonce-wds. of obvious meaning used by Carlyle or his imitators: ˈgigmaness, ˈgigmanhood, gigˈmania [with play on mania], gigˈmanic a., gigˈmanically adv., ˈgigmanism, gigˈmanity.
1830Carlyle in Froude Life (1882) II. 122 The gig and gigmania must rot. 1831Ibid. 185 As Gigmaness you could not have lived. Ibid. 199 Frivolous gigmanity. 1832Ibid. 233 A..person of considerable faculty, which, however, had shaped itself gigmanically only. ― Ess. iv. (1872) 150 Consider what this Gigmanhood issues in. 1835Mrs. Carlyle Lett. I. 42 Educated in the school of country gigmanism. 1931Times Lit. Suppl. 12 Feb. 112/3 The sculptor's abandonment of exotic delights and infidelity to return to swaggering Sicilian gigmanity. 1966New Statesman 16 Dec. 908/3 The style..was suitable for the full-souled, for the gigmanity and for those in office.
▪ II. ˈgigman2 U.S.
[f. gig n.4]
One who fishes with a gig; = gigger2.
1889in Century Dict. |