| 释义 |
gangn. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian gong way, journey, travelling (West Frisian gong ), also gong , gung degree of relationship, chronological sequence, Old Dutch gang going, entrance, step (in place names also ‘path, way’; Middle Dutch gang going, walking, gait, ability to walk, movement in a particular direction, travelling, journey, passage, gangway, (of money) currency, value, validity, Dutch gang ), Old Saxon gang walk, way, course (Middle Low German gang going, walking, gait, ability to walk, course, journey, route, passage, gangway, privy, (of money) currency, value, validity), Old High German gang going, walking, travelling, journey, step, stride, passage, privy (Middle High German ganc , gang , also in sense ‘gait’, German Gang ), Old Icelandic gangr going, walking, an instance of this, pace, pacing, course, rapid or furious going, privy, Old Swedish ganger walking, going, gait, run, motion, charge, passage (Swedish gång ), Old Danish gang (Danish gang ) < the same Germanic base as gang v.1 The cognates listed above are all strong masculine. In East Germanic and North Germanic there are also parallel formations < the same Germanic base: compare (strong neuter) Gothic gaggs way, (weak feminine) Old Icelandic ganga walking, course, Old Swedish ganga walking, going, and (neuter plural) Old Icelandic gǫng passage, lobby. Compare also yong n. and discussion at that entry.Form history. With early instances of γ. forms perhaps compare also Old English gandæg , variant of Gang Day n. As Old English spelling does not reliably indicate palatalization of g , it is possible that some of the Old English forms covered here may be forms of yong n., i.e. forms with a palatalized initial consonant. Conversely, it is possible that some Middle English forms spelt with ȝo- at yong n. may instead show this word (i.e. with initial /ɡ/ rather than /j/). Semantic developments. For use in English in sense ‘privy’ see gong n.1 With sense 1d compare corresponding use in other West Germanic languages (see above), and also Old Icelandic gang-silfr current coin. With sense 3b compare West Frisian in gong wetter , Dutch een gang water (also een gang melk , etc.; 19th cent.), German (regional) ein Gang Wasser , as much water (or milk, etc.) as one can carry at one time, i.e. two pailfuls. With sense 6 perhaps compare uses in phrasal constructions in Dutch, German, Swedish, and Danish with reference to a time or occasion of doing something; compare also go n.1 With sense 7a compare similar use denoting a set of articles in Swedish (16th cent.), Danish (18th cent.), and in German regional use (Pomerania, probably after Swedish). Sense 8 probably developed primarily from the conception of a group of people going about together, whereas senses 9 and 10 were probably additionally influenced by sense 7, as denoting a group or set (of people or animals) having characteristics in common. Compare earlier ging n.1 It is uncertain whether there was any influence from early Scandinavian uses in compounds, or whether these simply show a parallel development; compare Old Icelandic þjófa-gangr group of thieves, gaura-gangr group of ruffians, and also drauga-gangr group of ghosts, músa-gangr group of mice. (Dutch gang and German Gang denoting a group of criminals show borrowings < English.) The following two Old English examples have sometimes been considered as perhaps showing earlier currency of sense 8:OE Daniel 48 He secan ongan..hu he Israelum eaðost meahte þurh gromra gang guman oðþringan. Gesamnode þa suðan and norðan wælhreow werod.OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 78 Basilius..eode þa ardlice to anes preostes huse, and het his gebroðra beon his geferan. Anastasius wæs gehaten se arwurþa mæssepreost þe se bisceop to fundode swa færlice mid gange.However, in quot. OE1 the phrase gromra gang probably means ‘an attack of hostile ones (i.e. enemies)’, rather than being synonymous with the following wælhreow werod ‘cruel army’; while in quot. OE2 it is unclear whether mid gange , lit. ‘with going’, refers back to Basilius's visit itself or (perhaps less likely) to the brothers that he commanded to accompany him. Middle Eng. Dict. interprets quot. c1440 at gang v.1 1a as an isolated Middle English example of this sense, but it seems much more likely that it shows the infinitive of the verb. In Old English the word is also attested in the senses ‘procession’ (compare Gang Day n.), ‘onset, attack’ (compare quot. OE1 above), ‘sole of the foot’, ‘track, footprint’, ‘course (of a celestial object)’, ‘passage (of time)’, ‘course (of events)’, ‘circuit, expanse (of waves, etc.)’, ‘area of land’ (compare oxgang n., plough-gang n.), and ‘legal process’. Occurrence in place names. The word is attested in place names in sense 4 (apparently chiefly in sense 4a); compare also outgang n. Compare e.g. Sumergange , East Riding, Yorkshire (a1216; now Summergangs), probably denoting a road which could be used only in summer; the name also shows a by-form with yong n. as second element: Someryonge (1282). It is possible that, in some northern English place names, the occurrence of gang n. rather than yong n. as a place-name element may indicate Scandinavian influence; for example, compare Fegang , East Riding, Yorkshire (1284; now Figham) with Old Danish fægang a track for driving cattle (Danish fægang , now archaic). In the place name Ouergange , Kent (1278; now Nethergong Farm, Chislet; also formerly the name of the nearby stream) the second element perhaps means ‘course of a stream’; compare sense 4b and also watergang n. (which is also attested as a place name). In the field name Yowgang , East Riding, Yorkshire (1413) the second element apparently has the sense ‘walk or pasture for livestock’ (compare sense 4c and ewegang n. at ewe n.1 Compounds 3). I. Action or mode of going; way, passage. 1. the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] eOE (Mercian) (1965) xvi. 5 Perfice gressvs meos in semitis tuis : gefreme gongas mine in stigum ðinum. eOE (Royal) (1865) i. xxvii. 68 Wið fota sare oþþe geswelle fram miclum gange, wegbræde getrifulad & wið eced gemenged. OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxiv. 226 Petrus..mid his gange getacnode ægðer ge ða strangan ge ða unstrangan on Godes folce... Þa ða Petrus caflice stop upon ðam sælicum yðum, þa getacnode he ða strangan. OE tr. Pseudo-Apuleius (Vitell.) (1984) i. 34 Gif mon on mycelre rade oþþe on miclum gangum weorðe geteorad. OE (1932) lxxii.1 Me fornean syndon losode nu ða ealle on foldan fota gangas. ?a1200 (?OE) (1896) 45 Æfter þissum unbynd þa fet and þa handa and smyre hy lange hwile mid þare sealfe and forhabban hyne wyð micele gangas. c1330 (Auch.) (1889) 38 Y bad þe þenke in soulenedes, Messes, matines, and euensong; Þou seyd þou most don oþer dedes, for þat was ydel monnes gong [c1330 Laud idel gong]. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 236 His gang garris all ȝour chalmeris schog. the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > power of OE Ælfric (Royal) (1997) i. 187 He forgeaf blindum mannum gesihðe & healtum & lamum rihtne gang [a1225 Vesp. A.xxii gang]. lOE (Corpus Cambr. 303) (1980) 106 Hi..þurh heora gebedum..gesealdon þam deafum heora hlest, and þan dumben heora spræce, and þam crypelan heora gang. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 24000 O wijttes all me wantid might, Gang, and steyuen, and tung, and sight, All failled me þat tide. the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > manner of walking OE St. Eustace (Julius) in W. W. Skeat (1900) II. 204 Eustachius þa soðlice feorran hi behealdende, be heora gewunelican gange [L. ex consuetudine incessus eorum] hi gecneow. OE Nativity of Virgin (Hatton) in B. Assmann (1889) 125 Heo wæs on gange and on worde and on eallum gebærum gelic wynsuman men, þe hæfde xxx wintra. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 28516 Lucheri has don me scrud Me-self, and bere my bodi prud. In gang, in chere, in contenance. 1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius 155 Some special one, whose gesture habitt and gang [L. incessum] hee might..imitate. 1627 W. Sclater (1629) iii. 9 Casually..may..children sometimes [fall] on fathers gestures, or gange of body. 1818 J. Hogg I. xii. 280 ‘Didna ye a' think it was unco like him?’ ‘The very man!—the very man!—his make, his gang, his claes, an' every thing.’ 1894 R. Reid 198 I kent it was nane but the laddie I socht, in pairt by his lassie-like gang. 2015 E. McKenna in 86 81 Aw we hiv left is her luks, Her gang, Her wags, The glint in her een. society > trade and finance > money > circulation of money > [noun] 1488 in (2007) 1488/10/47 The said penny of gold to have course and gang for xxx of the saidis groitis. †2. society > travel > [noun] society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [noun] society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [noun] > a day's journey OE (Corpus Cambr.) vii. 28 Geneadod to anre mile gange, gang willes twa. OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) ii. xix. 142 Se munuc, þe þær onsænded wæs, æfter þære gedonan lare..þa wæs he gebeden.., þæt he sumne dæl sceattes onfengce to leane & to mede his ganges & his lare. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 8910 Ferrdenn towarrd nazaræþ. An daȝȝess gang till efenn. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 5983 Thre dais gang, na mare ne less, We most weind in to wildirness. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 5191 (MED) Graid your gang, For in-till egypt thinc me now lang. 1808 J. Jamieson Gang, a journey. A fer geng, a long journey, or a long walk. society > travel > [noun] > resorting or repairing to a place 1645 E. Pagitt 71 By reason of a gang of silly women with childe to the Image of our Lady of Steining..to which they did trot with many rich offerings. 3. eOE (Kentish) Royal Charter: Æðelberht to Wulflaf (Sawyer 328) in W. de G. Birch (1887) II. 100 Et Febresham: i sealtern & ii wena gang mid cyninges wenum to Blean ðem wiada. OE Royal Charter: Offa of Mercia to Ealdbeorht (Sawyer 125) in W. de G. Birch (1885) I. 344 In Bocholte, & in Blean, & in Haraðum c foðra uuido, & tuegra uuegna gang uuintres sumeres. c1275 ( Will of Siflæd (Sawyer 1525a) in D. Whitelock (1930) 94 [H]er switeleþ..ihu Sifled vthe hire aihte þo sche ouer se ferde; þat is erst into þe tunkirke on Mardingforð v acres & ane toft & ii acres medwe and to wayne gong to wude. 1552–3 in R. Adam (1899) I. 88 To Laurence Tod for ane gang with his grete boit with wall stanis..and to him for twa gang with his small boit. 1774 P. Fea Diary 4 Jan. in (1956) IV. 246/1 The most that they could do being 8 gang a day. 1866 T. Edmondston 37 Gang of peats, a number of ponies loaded with peats; each trip is a ‘gang’. 1926 J. Wilson 244 Gang, a going, a journey to fetch something. 1928 A. Horsbøl tr. J. Jakobsen I. 211/2 Foo [= how] mony gjang is [= have] de horses been at de ‘bank’ for peats? Hurro for my hoitin (or hidmost) gjang! society > travel > transport > [noun] > of loads > single journey or amount conveyed on c1275 ( Will of Siflæd (Sawyer 1525) in D. Whitelock (1930) 92 Marþingforð..al buten tuenti acres and tueye waine gong wudes and þere wude norþouer. 1560 in J. B. Paul (1916) XI. 32 Twa gang of see watter..to mak pickkle. 1590 in M. Wood & R. K. Hannay (1927) V. 19 To gett four tounnis of beir with foure gang of aill. 1633 XXVIII. f. 17 Aucht laid of burne for draking the lyme at ij s. the gang. 1775 7 Feb. This farm is six miles from Dumfries, six from Lockerby, and so nigh Closeburn, where there is plenty of good lime, that they may bring two gangs a-day. 1827 R. Pollok Let. in D. Pollok (1841) 357 The said servant shall, at each returning gang of milk, churn one of the churns. 1860 E. B. Ramsay (ed. 6) ii. 33 They've drucken sax gang o' watter. 1880 J. Jamieson (new ed.) II. at Gang In Shetland..a gang of peats means the quantity brought by a number of ponies at each trip. 1917 J. L. Waugh 173 As watter'll no rise abune its ain level, an' as The Knowe is higher than the reservoir, ye'll ha'e to cairry it in gangs frae the Grennan. 1975 J. Y. Mather & H. H. Speitel I. 186 Two pailfuls of water carried together, [central and southern counties] Gang, [Angus, Perthshire] Ging. 4. society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, passage, or means of access to a place > [noun] OE (Mercian) i. 3 Rectas facite semitas eius : rehte wyrcaþ uel doað stige uel gongas [OE Lindisf. stigo uel geongas] his. OE 109 Þa men þe bearn habban..him tæcean lifes weg & rihtne gang to heofonum. 1532 in H. M. Paton (1957) I. 102 Eftir the bigging of the said myln bringand in yeird to the gang of the hors. 1855 F. K. Robinson 67 Gang, a term synonymous with road, often used with a specific or descriptive prefix, as Bygang, Crossgang, Downgang, Outgang, Upgang. 1872 G. MacDonald xxix. 284 They all hurried to the gang by which he had found a way into the goblin country. 1876 C. C. Robinson Gang, a path; also, a narrow way of any kind. 1882 J. H. Nodal & G. Milnar Gang, a lobby in a farm-house. 1928 A. Horsbøl tr. J. Jakobsen I. 211/2 Gang, a passage; a thoroughfare. 1962 H. Orton & W. J. Halliday I. i. 65 Q[uestion]. What do you call the passage in front of the cows from which they are fed?.. [Lancashire] Gang. 1985 K. Howarth Gang, a narrow passage. the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > system > [noun] > course eOE tr. Orosius (BL Add.) (1980) ii. iv. 43 He hie eac mid gedelfe on monige ea upp forlet, & siþþan mid eallum his folce on ðære ea gong on þa burg færende wæs, & hie gerahte. 1467 in T. Thomson (1839) 8/1 Þe actioune..anent þe abstractioune of þe water of Northesk fra þe ald gang. 1493 in T. Thomson (1839) 307/1 The wrangwis..drawing of the watter out of the auld gang. 1825 J. Jamieson Suppl. Gang, the channel of a stream, or course in which it is wont to run; a term still used by old people. the world > food and drink > farming > farm > farmland > grassland > [noun] > pasture 1413 in A. H. Smith (1937) 323 (MED) [Field name] Yowgang. 1533 in W. C. Dickinson (1937) 159 The Inqueist ordanis that the dyk salbe maid as ald ws & wont & to be keipit thair gangis siklik as ws & wont. 1777 3 Mar. The Privileges and Pasturage of it are extensive, and makes one of the driest and best Sheep Gangs in the Country, and capable to maintain Two hundred Head daily. 1808 J. Jamieson (at cited word) The haill gang, the whole extent of pasture. A fine gang, an excellent pasture. 1820 W. Scott II. iv. 157 ‘The gang of two cows and a palfrey on Our Lady's meadow,’ answered his brother officer. 1857 H. S. Riddell xxiii. 2 He mak's me til lye doun in green an' baittle gangs; he leeds me asid the quæet waters. 1912 J. L. Waugh xii There was grass o' the best and sweetest and sourocks and daisies—juist sic a gang as wad hae delighted the hert o' ony ordinary sensible coo. society > occupation and work > equipment > ladder > [noun] > rung or step OE Prudentius Glosses (Boulogne 189) in H. D. Meritt (1959) 42 Pulpita : .i. gradus scenae, gangas. 1688 R. Holme iii. 327/1 The Roofe Ladder..is usually made with broad Ganges to go into the higher storyes. the world > action or operation > doing > [noun] > spell or bout of action 1879 W. Dickinson (ed. 2) Suppl. Gang, turn to play. ‘It's thy gang noo.’ II. A set of things or people. 7. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > group > set of things to be used or made together ?1340 in J. T. Fowler (1898) I. 203 5 ganges de feleis. 1382 in D. Yaxley (2003) 91 Gongs de Felghes [sold with] gonge de spoks. 1454 in J. T. Fowler (1898) I. 150 iij gang et di. de felys pro rotis inde fiendis, iij gang del spekys. 1558 in J. Raine (1835) I. 162 Twoo gang of wayne fellowes wth heades and moldeburdes. 1575 in (1987) 124 1 payre of tonges 2 gange of harowe pinnes. 1629 Dumfries Test. f. 214v, in (at cited word) Ane gray Londoune claith cloak lynd throw with velvett, with twa dowle gang of gold laice thairvpon. 1694 28 The main Mast must be unrig'd, and a new gang of shrouds fitted. 1726 G. Shelvocke iv. 163 I had fitted her with a gang of oars, and upon tryal they gave way after the rate of 3 knots. 1791 Mrs. Frazer ii. 12 Scald twelve gang of calfs feet, and put them on with ten pints of water. 1829 F. Marryat I. iii. 95 Didn't we make a gang of white hammock-cloths fore and aft. 1886 4 Sept. 8/3 Beast feet from 10d. to 1s. per gang of four. 1906 Mar. 129 It proved to be a ‘gang’ of lobster traps, which had been carried off into deep water and so lost. 1978 A. Fenton xliv. 352 The scroos are sometimes made with a layer of hay between each gang of sheaves. 2009 14 Aug. 10/4 The heavy duty spreader bar with rollers used to haul these units in gangs of four across the sea bed. society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > [noun] > set of > arranged to work simultaneously 1578 in J. Raine (1853) 274 A pair of studills, quelis, cards, raving fatt gangs, and all other geare perteyning wooll worke. 1640 Inventory 28 Sept. in J. H. Trumbull (1850) I. 448 One gang of harrow tynes. 1781 S. Peters 265 The planks are cut by a gang of ten or twelve saws, more or less, as occasion requires. 1807 A. Young I. v. 147 Mr. Rogers..uses a gang of extremely light harrows. a1817 T. Dwight (1822) III. 204 I had an opportunity of seeing in one of the mills..what is called a ‘gang of saws’; that is, a sufficient number to convert a log into boards by a single operation. 1875 E. H. Knight II. 940/2 Gangs of plows have been arranged for work by attaching a number of plows to a bar at proper distances. 1907 15 June 998/1 If a gang of switches is to be located in one place, these boxes can be increased indefinitely by..inserting any number of the spacers. 1935 23 1125 Manual tuning means have been improved by the employment of more smoothly working speed-reducing movements to operate the variable condenser gang. 1982 Sept. 69/1 The original machine had a gang of cutter chains mounted vertically on a swiveling head. 1992 Nov. 15/4 To run an outside light from the third ‘gang’, simply run a new switch cable to the light switch. the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > hook > [noun] > hooks fastened together 1879 G. B. Goode (Bull. U.S. National Mus. No. 14) 96 Minnow-gang. Property of J. A. Nichols, Syracuse, N. Y. 1902 Mar. 740/1 The man who uses these triple gangs to catch a fish will..shoot a game bird sitting placidly. 1922 O. W. Smith xi. 144 Sometimes a two-hook frog or minnow gang is used. 1958 Feb. 73/1 (advt.) Exciting kits for making..Worm Gangs, Rods, Flies and Bugs. 2005 J. Waldman 22 A crueler device was the Ketchum Frog Gang, a wire harness with hooks designed to stretch out a live frog for trolling. the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [noun] > a large number or multitude 1928 J. Callahan vi. 78 A flock of black dresses, a gang of new bonnets and a lot of other things. 1933 W. Wilson Gimme Pigfoot (song) in D. K. Wilgus (1967) 147 Gimme a reefer An' a gang of gin. 1946 M. Mezzrow & B. Wolfe vii. 93 We had a gang of things in common. 1969 R. D. Pharr (1970) ix. 95 This white guy writes up a whole gang of numbers. 2003 Y. B. Moore x. 95 From the way JC's bag was bulging that fateful night, they knew it contained a gang of money, but they never found it. 8. the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [noun] > people united by kinship or friendship 1553 in J. H. Burton (1877) 1st Ser. I. 138 Anent the keping of Liddisdaill; for answer thairto, Robert Ellot, younger, for his gang, and Thomas Armestrang..for his gang. 1576 Memorial in (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) II. 339 Ressaue the berar..as plege for the gang of Quhithauch. 1600 Answer Slanderous Assertions Grames 25 Sept. in J. Nicolson & R. Burn (1777) I. p. cviii Now hereafter follows young Hutchin's clan and gang. And first the names that Geordie answers for..: John Litle..Andrew Elwood [etc.]. society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a company or body of persons > [noun] > gang 1599 T. Nashe 10 The gangs of good fellowes, that hurtled and bustled thither, as thicke as it had beene to the shrine of Saint Thomas a Becket. 1632 in R. F. Williams (1848) (modernized text) II. 197 Nutt the pirate..with all his gang of varlets. 1677 R. Cary ii. i. xiii. 126 I have a question to move on the behalf of the Gang of Chronographers. 1753 H. Fielding 58 The alibi Defence is..a Falsehood very easy to be practised on all Occasions, where there are Gangs of People, as Gipsies. 1781 J. Moore I. i. 18 We were a gang of impostures, who had no connection with the Grand Duke. 1788 10 Jan. One of those gangs, consisting of about eight or nine riotous sailors..committed several disturbances and outrages in the town. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. iv. 505 [William Penn] disgusted his friends by joining what was then generally considered as a gang of crazy heretics [sc. Quakers]. 1858 Jan. 259/1 Francis Vincent, the keeper of a lager-bier saloon, was murdered by a gang of foreigners. 1918 July 28/1 We'll..have it up in my barn and all the kids of our gang can be in it. 1955 G. Freeman i. i. 15 All the gang would be there, and she'd be ever so proud of him. 1989 T. Bodett iii. xxiii. 237 Watching..Norman rip his way through a gang of bikers. 1991 M. Nicholson (1992) xxvi. 210 Nearly all our gang had new Graves bikes. Except for Morfydd with her second-hand Raleigh. 2006 23 Oct. 94/2 Is the movie somehow contending that the Queen was, with her gang of cronies.., the Paris Hilton of the eighteenth century? the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > criminality > criminal person > [noun] > gang society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > crime > a criminal or law-breaker > criminal gang 1652 G. H. (title) Being a most pleasant and Historical Narrative, of Captain James Hind... With his Orders, Instructions, and Decree, to all his Royal Gang, and Fraternity. 1701 No. 3755/8 Supposed to be concerned with a Gang of House-breakers. 1725 at Carriers Rogues..employ'd to..watch upon the Roads..in order to carry Information to their respective Gangs, of a booty in Prospect. 1828 II. 259 The distant signal-whistle of a gang of robbers. 1831 W. Carpenter Polit. Pilot 26 Mar. 15/1 in The delinquents were convicted of stealing a coat out of a gentleman's chaise, and were well known as part of a gang. 1883 75 130/2 The breaking up of gangs of criminals through the operation of long terms of penal servitude. 1925 1 Mar. i. 2/2 A drive Federal agents have been making against an alleged ‘drug dealing gang’. 1934 Oct. 480/2 Frank (‘The Enforcer’) Nitto, Capone's cousin and business manager of the Capone gang, was shot three times in the neck. 1991 L. Sante iii. i. 233 The three-year war that raged, beginning in 1916, between a Manhattan Italian gang, known as the Mafia, and its Brooklyn counterpart, the Camorra. 2002 J. McGahern (2003) 21 A gang of criminals from the East End was in the same wing of the prison. 1857 Aug. 402/1 A gang..known as the ‘Dead Rabbits’, made an attack upon a few policemen on duty near their haunts. These fled into a neighboring drinking-saloon frequented by a gang hostile to the ‘Rabbits’. 1892 Feb. 554/1 A gang of young men who called themselves ‘Regulators’,..who were the ‘Mohawks’ and ‘thugs’ and ‘plug-uglies’ of that time. 1927 F. M. Thrasher iv. xxi. 453 The political boss knows exactly how to appeal to the gang because he himself has usually received valuable training for politics in a street gang. 1941 E. Linklater ii. 33 They were disagreeable youths, Glasgow-born, and suspect members of a street-corner gang called the Redskins. 1968 G. M. Williams i. 14 When the hard neds of the King Street gang came into a café he stood up, all silent and casual, telling them quietly to beat it. 1981 2 Aug. ii. 1/1 There are other trademarks for certain gangs. For the Bloods it is red handkerchief dangling from their trouser pocket. For the Crips it is a blue handkerchief. 2008 8 Dec. 74/2 Fabolous grew up in Brooklyn's Brevoort projects, home to a number of dangerous thugs who belong to a gang called the Commission, or the Street Family. 1920 A. Bishop xviii. 244 Hello, gang... How's my circus troupe these days? 1955 W. Gaddis ii. ii. 372 So don't forget, gang. Tell Mummy about these new scientific aids. 1978 L. Duncan (1986) xiv. 182 ‘Hi there, gang!’ the pert, dark-eyed waitress greeted them pleasantly. 1986 Q Oct. 16/1 Hi gang, this is Martha in Marietta, Georgia. I gotta lotta Springsteen bootlegs and I wanna trade. 2011 N. Taylor 244 Coach Rick has perfectly aligned tube socks and a buzz cut, and initially addressed the group with a ‘Hey, gang!’ 9. society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > [noun] > gang of 1627 J. Smith vi. 27 Man the Boat is to put a Gang of men, which is company into her, they are commonly called the Coxswaine Gang. 1668 S. Pepys 16 Jan. (1976) IX. 26 Home to dinner with my gang of clerks. 1699 B. E. Gang..a Society of Porters under a Regulation. 1706 (new ed.) (at cited word) In Sea-Affairs, Gangs are the several Companies of Mariners belonging to a Ship [etc.]. 1775 B. Romans 182 Hogshead staves of white oak are made by what are called gangs of people; a stave making gang consists of five persons. 1781 C. Powys (1899) 210 The herrings are..wash'd in tubs of brine, then brought to..the gang of women—twelve is a gang—who spit them on sticks. 1815 J. Smith I. 185 A gang, consisting of six persons, will make twenty thousand bricks in the course of a week. 1863 F. A. Kemble 25 There are here a gang of coopers. 1891 65 577/1 He was unloading four ships, each with a gang of four men. 1907 11 June 4 The nine prisoners..were indentured immigrants upon that estate, and he believed that six of them had formed part of a forking gang. 1951 J. Hawkes ix Gangs of navvies were moved about the country embanking, cutting, tunnelling, bridge-building. 1983 C. Thubron (1985) iv. 99 Lost in the suburbs, I approached a building site where a gang of labourers was shovelling rubble into a cart. 2001 M. Blake x. 111 It was deserted, a gang of construction workers having left for their liquid lunch. society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > [noun] > slave > a company of 1764 J. Grainger i. 43 A numerous gang of sturdy slaves, Well-fed, well-cloath'd, all emulous to gain Their master's smile. 1790 E. Burke 52 A gang of Maroon slaves, suddenly broke loose from the house of bondage. View more context for this quotation 1804 4 Mar. 2 John Wilson..was sentenced to..work in the Gaol Gang. 1832 H. Martineau i. 7 The second gang consisted of young boys and girls..: these were dispersed in the plantations, weeding between the rows of young plants. 1883 ‘Ouida’ I. 13 Now and then a gang of such captives would go by on foot and chained. 1910 J. R. W. Guelph xxvii. 255 The last gang of convicts had reached the round-house. 1938 20 Aug. 9/3 A member of a gang of 10 native convicts suddenly dropped his pick and cleared for the bush. 1970 23 Feb. 54/1 A gang of seminude galley slavettes..bend to the oar under a whip. 2003 116 222/1 At first his narrative for the song illustrated how black convict gangs used it as a worksong when chopping wood. the world > animals > animals collectively > [noun] > group (of same species) 1657 in (1913) 8 33 (modernized text) A great complaint of many [was made against Deere] for common frequenting the wild gang, killing cattle, and marking of calves, all of which he pretended to be his own. 1663 c. 1 §5 Summes of money in the name of Toll or Custome, to be paid for all such..Gangs of Cattell, as..shall passe, bee ledd, or droven, in or through the said waye. 1740 vii. 183 None shall hunt any Gang of Dogs within four miles of any crawl or Settlement. 1759 Monthly Rep. 31 Jan. in H. Bouquet (1941) Series 21644 Pt. I. 58 A Corporal and Six Men whom I sent three Days agoe a hunting after a Gang of Horses in the Cove. 1804 P. Gass 9 Sept. (1807) 37 This day we saw several gangs or herds, of buffaloe on the sides of the hills. 1882 10 Feb. 5/3 It might puzzle..to..tell what is the precise difference in the vocabulary of the hunter between a ‘herd’ and a ‘gang’ of elk. 1893 R. L. Stevenson 101 It was in one of these still times that a whole gang of birds and flying foxes came pegging out of the bush like creatures frightened. 1919 June 172 A gang of wolves in daylight attacked a large flock of sheep which was guarded by a shepherd. 1956 Hall Coll. in (1991) II. 628/2 He went up there and found a gang of wolves eatin' a bunch of sheep. 1995 S. Marty xi. 177 I glassed around the ridges nearer at hand hoping to find a gang [of elk] closer to me. Phrasessociety > society and the community > [verb (intransitive)] > belong to the same society or group 1669 S. Pepys 4 Mar. (1976) IX. 469 This company, both the ladies and all, are of a gang. 1723 D. Defoe (ed. 2) 94 I am none of their Gang. 1851 J. Kennedy iii. 37 If they are of a gang, I never hear of them again. 1912 J. Sargeaunt tr. Terence Phormio ii, in (1918) II. 33 There you are! all of a pattern, all of a gang! Know one and you know all. 1983 June 19/1 Power-holders have come and gone, but the Chinese Communists are all of a gang. P2. Gang of Four. society > authority > rule or government > politics > politics in India and Far East > [noun] > Chinese politics > specific cultural revolutionary politicians 1976 15 Oct. 1/1 ‘Crush and strangle the gang of four’, the posters were quoted as saying. 1976 29 Oct. 7/2 The Party Central Committee headed by Chairman Hua Kuo-feng smashed the scheme of the ‘gang of four’ to usurp Party and state power. 1991 20 390 Since the downfall of the Gang of Four in 1976, China has gradually been opening its doors to the outside world. 2004 Sept. 23/2 The death of Mao in 1976 was followed swiftly by the arrest of the ‘Gang of Four’, the ultra-radical supporters of Cultural Revolution policies. 1977 9 Apr. 51 The so-called gang of four, headed by Sanjay Gandhi. 1980 12 Mar. a17 He added Assistant Secretary of State Harold Saunders, calling the officials a ‘Gang of Five’ against Israel. 1980 1 Aug. 1/1 (headline) ‘Gang of three’ bid to save Labour. 1985 23 Dec. 4/1 Gradison and two other commissioners became known as the ‘Gang of Three’ for their strong emphasis on railroad freedoms. 2010 13 Dec. 63/3 The Gang of Seven, an insurrectionary group of young conservatives who tormented the old bulls of the House for abusing such privileges as the House bank and post office. society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > [noun] > member > specific group of members 1981 26 Jan. 1/1 (caption) The new ‘gang of four’: Mr Rodgers, Mrs Williams, Mr Jenkins and Dr Owen yesterday. 1985 21 May (London ed.) 32/7 He did not reserve his characteristic gentleness for Mr Bill Rodgers, one of Mrs Williams's co-defectors in the Gang of Four. 2000 J. Caughie vii. 186 The Social Democratic Party (SDP) formed in the early 1980s as a breakaway from the Labour Party by the ‘Gang of Four’. Compounds C1. In sense 4. 1828 W. Carr (ed. 2) Gang-boose, the narrow passage from a cow-house to the barn. 1882 J. H. Nodal & G. Milnar Gang-boose, a narrow passage from the cow-house to the barn. 1866 5 May 4/4 William Witter, gang rider, Shevington, said: The deceased, Daniel Holland, worked at the John Pitt Colliery. 1908 Minutes Evid. Royal Comm. Mines II. 47/1 in (Cd. 3873) XX Tubs may come along and..break down three or four of your girders, and the horse driver, or the gang rider, or anybody who is there. 1992 (U.S. Bureau of Census) O-76 Gang rider. society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > road > [noun] > from harbour to buildings 1733 I. iii. 48 Those low drug Wheels, by which the Coals of Durham and Northumberland, and other Places, are drawn a long Way on Gang Roads or Ways. 1834 E. Mammatt ii. 29 To conduct the gas by proper pipes, down the shafts and along the gang-roads and levels under ground. 1893 3 Feb. 1/3 It is supposed that the accident was due to leaving one of the main doors open to a gang road. 1969 F. Nixon 149 The Gang road was opened in 1795, the canal throughout its length in 1796. C2. In sense 7. society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > saw > [noun] > gang-saw 1804 8 May 148/1 The gang plough is made on the same construction as the companion-plough. 1839 115 The following mills and factories, viz. one for sawing stone, one cotton and one woollen factory, two double gang saw mills, five single saws. 1873 J. Richards 127 To manufacture thin boards cheaply, the gang saw must be used. 1876 L. P. Brockett xvii. 99 Ribbons are usually woven on gang-looms. 1894 (Weekly ed.) 2 Feb. 89/3 A man with two yoke of oxen and a gang-plough breaks up a quarter section (160 acres) during five spring and summer months. 1925 June (Advertising section) 168/1 Bakelite shock absorber gang socket. 1969 L. E. Doyle & C. A. Keyser (ed. 2) xxii. 577 A gang drill can be set up so that work can be passed from spindle to spindle. 2006 P. Blackwell & J. C. F. Walker in J. C. F. Walker vii. 210 Where deep cuts..are required as in a gang-edger a double arbor may be used. b. 1860 31 May 346/3 On one end [of the rope for lifting hay] is fastened what they term gang hooks. The two hooks being connected.., when stretched apart will measure some five feet. 1877 Feb. 443 The law rules out all gang hooks [for trout-fishing]. The ‘single baited hook’ only is permitted. 1942 L. D. Rich x. 287 He had a gang-hook full of worms on the end, and along the leader a couple of drop hooks, Archer spinners, spoons, and various gadgets. 2009 3 Dec. 46/1 All one had to do then was lower a gang hook weighted with a blob of lead to the bottom and then jerk the line. It was called ‘striking for cod’. society > occupation and work > workplace > places for working with specific materials > place for working with wood > [noun] > saw-mill 1813 H. G. Spafford 201/1 On the N. shore, are 2 saw-mills, the one a gang-mill with 21 saws. 1879 15 Oct. David Fox of Bay City..put in the first gang-mill upon the Saginaw river. 1962 N. W. Hickman ii. 22 This gang mill, with modifications, continued to be used until 1905. 2006 B. Gove vi. 32/2 A multiple-saw sash gang mill that could saw a number of logs instantaneously. society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > other types of cutting equipment > [noun] > others 1917 (U.S. Patent Office) 25 Sept. 844/1 Gang-mower. John F. Braun, Merion Station, Pa. 1922 June 72 (advt.) Ransomes' special golf mowers..motor, horse and pony mowers specially designed for golf courses, including..The Pioneer Gang Mower. 1984 Mar. 104/2 For very large lawns..a ride-on mower or a gang mower towed behind a small tractor might be worth considering. 2010 S. Fry 43 In the summer I drove the tractor that pulled the gang-mower around the cricket square. 1866 Ann. Rep. Commissioners Patents 1864: Arts & Manuf. I. 751 in (38th Congr., 2nd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 51) Adjustable Gang Punch.—This invention consists of a series of solid punches, with the dies to match, connected and operating together so as to punch a series of holes in curves, or other forms, and at various distances. 1940 Feb. 114A/2 The last of this ‘machine intelligentsia’ is the gang punch, devised by Bureau technicians...It can punch over 100,000 cards a day. 1995 E. M. Pugh 332 To further reduce operator effort for the census work, Hollerith created a gang punch that permitted a fixed group of holes in the first four columns to be punched into as many as six cards at a time. 1885 2/1 The application of this principle to what are known as ‘gang-switches’ involves certain features of novelty. 1955 May 223 (caption) A single rotary gang switch handles four circuits. 1973 16 June 61/4 A 1,500-watt gang switch for multiple light sources. 2009 J. R. Shannon vi. 84 Console stop switches, whether tabs or knobs, open and close gang switches, one for the manual and one for the pedal. C3. In senses 8 and 9 (now chiefly 8c and 8d). a. 1912 10 June 9/4 The public and police very seldom hear of this form of gang activity because it is mostly invoked by crooks and grafters. 1989 N. A. Weiner & M. A. Zahn in T. R. Gurr (ed. 3) I. v. 118 Reductions in the levels of violent gang activities were also responsible for reductions in firearms arrests. 2009 11 June 2/5 The police made it clear that the unit would focus..on other organised crime, including drug-dealing..and gang activity. 1934 30 Jan. 4/4 The usury..was attributed to a prisoner named Whitey Miller, whose gang affiliation has not yet been determined. 1977 J. B. Jacobs vi. 171 During the meeting..he asked the leaders whom they represented, and each gave his gang affiliations. 2011 K. Slaughter 210 None of them share a gang affiliation or a social club. They all have different backgrounds. 1859 Mar. 54 It is the pride of the Punjaub Government, that under its vigorous rule gang crime has disappeared. Desperadoes have fled before the face of law. 1915 June 397/1 They were led into all the byways and dark alleys of gang crime... They have evidence which they believe will send nearly every dangerous gangman to the city to jail. 2007 (National ed.) 8 Feb. a10/6 Police Chief William J. Bratton and Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa..plan to announce on Thursday a broad proposal to diminish gang crime. 1933 23 966 These materials serve as evidence of the spread of a gang culture despite the decimation and the dissolution of the original gang. 1958 19 Oct. 3/4 Gang culture is invading the life of middle-class children. 2004 Jan. 31/1 At the time, gang culture was just beginning to alarm mainstream society. 1903 22 Sept. 4/5 There was too much promiscuous shooting on the East Side... The Eastman-Kelly gang feud must cease. 1967 24 Feb. 5 The roster of victims grows in Boston's gang feud. 2008 June 146/1 Police originally believed that Star's death was the result of misdirected gunfire initiated by a gang feud. society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > [noun] > a fight > street or gang-fight 1889 24 Nov. 1/4 Woodson invited Vaughan to the rear [of the gambling house] to fight. Vaughan followed, thinking he could get better than a gang fight or a razor. 1932 H. Simpson x. 271 A man left lying insensible in the wake of a gang-fight. 1958 20 Dec. 880/3 The films have conditioned us to demanding a high degree of realism in this kind of gang-fight. 2006 ‘A. Ant’ iii. 67 I only tasted real danger as a skinhead on two occasions. The first was during a big local gang fight. 1942 5 Aug. ii. 12/2 I don't run with any of the gang kids. 1964 K. Hanson iv. 64 Even more than they fear mayhem and possible murder, gang kids are afraid to lose face, to look bad, to ‘punk out’. 1997 G. Sikes iii. 183 When a gang kid's family moved to Milwaukee, local teenagers began emulating Chicago gangs. 1873 in ii. 164 To keep up a moral influence over the moral nature of children who year after year become more and more familiar with the license of gang life. 1927 F. M. Thrasher ii. Introd. 80 The adult man, also, even though he has passed through the adventures of gang life, usually marries and ‘settles down’. 1949 M. Mead xv. 309 This asocial gang-life of boys provides a basis for the adult criminal world in America. 2004 (Midwest ed.) 15 Feb. xiii. 7A/4 Hip-hop credibility was linked to looking ‘street’, a notion interpreted through styles that made reference to gang life. 1825 7 Feb. 85/2 Sir T. Lethbridge (though a Bridge-street Gang Member) expressed his delight that the Ministers were going to extinguish the Catholic Association. 1910 Nov. 567/1 To them the gang members are heroes, and they are proud to be taken into the gang's confidence and to share the proceeds of its petty thievery. 2005 17 Dec. 9/4 Her first serious boyfriend was a black 17-year-old gang member on the estate who often initiated the violence in their ‘happy slap’ sprees by punching strangers in the face. 1925 14 Apr. i. 10/6 The officers were kept busy tracing new clews which finally swelled the gang membership to nearly fifteen different boys. 1992 D. F. Gates & D. K. Shah xx. 307 Officers will spot these ‘wannabes’ hanging around gang members..and talk to them about the downside of gang membership. 2001 C. Coker vi. 115 The problem is that gang membership can create a strong sense of identity. Neo-tribal affiliations can provide what spirit of community there is in much of the world. 1914 11 Jan. 2 This last outbreak of gang violence afforded a test of his administration of the Police Department. 1966 Aug.–Sept. 352 The police provided protection for the marchers against the primitive fury of the white mobs in a city long notorious for its racial and gang violence. 2009 22 June 39/3 The High Point Strategy, as it has come to be known, was aimed at public drug dealing, not gang violence, but the methodology was largely the same. b. society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to status > [noun] > overseer or foreman 1863 23 Nov. 2/5 H. P. Stokes and Jas. Gaskill, ‘gang bosses’ in the machine shops. 1924 Sept. 60/2 Advertisers with the manners of mule drivers and gang bosses. 1931 18 June 485/1 The modern ‘gang-boss’ and his henchmen in the boot~legging and hijacking world in America. 1977 29 Apr. 2/1 They went to the gang boss and it was decided to rectify it when another driller noticed a small stream of mud running from the preventer's outlet. 2001 18 May 2/2 Gang boss Rashaad Staggie was shot and set alight during a People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) march. a1816 R. Watson (1817) 456 To what whip of a Negro gang-driver is this badge appended? 1864 C. Kingsley ii. 20 Left their slaves to the tender mercy of..stewards and gang-drivers. 1965 ‘Lauchmonen’ i. 4 Charlie Thom was head gang driver. 1985 R. Monar 75 Then Bahadur notify the gang driver that he, Bahadur, taking up the challenge. 1865 11 Nov. 508/1 With him were two of his gang girls, one of them, named Roult, being sixteen years of age. 1964 K. Hanson iv. 70 Respect for mothers, however, does not extend to the gang girls who frequently out-curse, out-fight, and out-sex every boys' gang around. 2003 L. Faderman v. 88 I dress like the pachuca gang girls who look so tough, just the way I want to be. society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to status > [noun] > overseer or foreman society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > crime > a criminal or law-breaker > gangster > specific 1775 G. Gilmer in (1887) 6 126 Every planter allows his Gang leader certain indulgences. 1852 W. H. Sleeman I. 89 Captain Weston succeeded in arresting this atrocious gang leader. 1910 Sept. 361/2 The gang leader in charge at the inspection pit. 1963 T. Morris & P. Morris xi. 240 Most serious of all are the premeditated ‘goings over’ of individuals by small groups of men who are the bodyguard of a gang leader. 2008 S. Venkatesh iii. 94 Chicago gang leaders got frustrated at how ‘country’ their Iowa counterparts were. 1927 6 July 4/6 Birger, once gang lord of southern Illinois.., [is] scheduled to go on trial Wednesday. 1970 5 Aug. 5/1 The new breed of ganglords has achieved eminence through slick merchandising and distribution techniques. 1997 I. Rankin (1998) xviii. 251 Mitch was killed by a man called Anthony Kane, a thug for hire. Kane used to work for a Glasgow ganglord. 1825 Sept. 114 There is no overseer, no gang master to compel them to their duty. 1906 15 139 Women and children worked in the fields in gangs under a gangmaster. 1993 15 Oct. ii. 28/1 Some farms in Britain are employing gangmasters to recruit foreign students. 1876 5 Aug. 2/1 The Southern cut-throat is never quite happy until he has won by his acts of diabolism and murder some ‘gang name’, the mention of which is sure to inspire peaceable and law-abiding people with mortal fear. 1908 Sept. 295/1 They had no gang names; they had..no prestige as a body. 1964 K. Hanson vii. 123 Luis was in the Dagger Juniors... After the old Daggers kind of petered out, and Luis got older, he re-activated the gang name. 2012 A. J. Zerries 53 The tallest of the trio, his gang name was Viper Xtreme. 1961 35 40/1 The frequency of brawling and non-gang-related fighting..was similar for delinquents.] 1969 24 June 2/1 The state probe of gang-related deaths. 1991 1 Dec. 81/2 The city has experienced an explosion in gang-related crime. 2007 No. 29. 8/1 The two-hour prayer walk..was organised by a coalition of Black church and other Christian leaders after a series of gang-related killings. the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > robber > brigand > [noun] > in other countries 1812 (House of Commons) i. ii. 115 They are allowed ten rupees from the government on the conviction of every decoit or gang robber apprehended by them. 1895 W. W. Hunter iv. 107 Two fraternities of gang-robbers, whom we had tracked down with much difficulty, escaped on their trial before Ayliffe as sessions judge. 1948 V. Purcell xiv. 260 The Japanese tried to make people believe that all the guerillas were mere bands of terrorists and gang-robbers. 2009 E. A. Strahorn iii. 19 The tarai was the home of forest-dwelling tribals, free-roaming dacoits (gang-robbers), and beleaguered cultivators. the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > brigandage or freebooting > [noun] 1812 (House of Commons) i. iii. 196 Its endeavours..for the suppression of gang robbery, appear in the new regulations. 1887 19 Mar. 383/2 That earliest, safest, and most profitable of all forms of crime,—violent gang-robbery. 1925 C. Wells xii. 170 Chinese coolies..began to overrun the district, form into bands, and commit gang robberies. 2011 (Nexis) 13 Jan. 25 He was arrested in November for the alleged gang robbery in Camden, North London. the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > other types of sexual activity or intercourse > [noun] > involving more than two people 1927 F. M. Thrasher xiii. 237 The gang shag includes boys from sixteen to twenty-two years of age. It is a party carried on with one woman by from fifteen to thirty boys from one gang or club. A mattress in the alley usually suffices for this purpose. 1968 ‘A. D'Arcangelo’ 116 If a good gang-shag has any advantage over any other sort of sexual performance, it seems to me to be its indifference to and rather neutralizing effect upon emotional love. 2003 ‘R. York’ 12 The urge to join the gang-shag was stronger than the shock. the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > other types of sexual activity or intercourse > engage in other types of sexual activity or intercourse [verb (intransitive)] > with more than one partner 1934 J. T. Farrell iii. 48 That time we gang-shagged that little bitch Iris. 1977 M. Torres in R. P. Rettig et al. iii. 101/1 Of course, sometimes a kid is forcibly raped or gang-shagged by three or four roving jocks. 2007 E. A. St. Amant & E. O. Zucca 78 What really happened is that three members of the team gang-shagged her in a washroom downstairs at the party, including José. 1934 6 Sept. 8/7 Prince George has accepted an invitation to attend ‘The Gang Show, 1934’, the Third London Scout revue. 1977 M. Billington ii. 18 So successful was Knotty Ash's Infant Rascius that he was able to perform for parent-teacher associations, charity groups and boy scout gang shows. 2004 Mar. 8/2 The Leaders, parents, Cub Scouts and Scouts organised a surprise party and gang show. 1833 3 July 4/4 It is but a miserable attempt to shroud the deformities of the gang system. 1891 12 Dec. 7/1 They are the outcome of division of labour; they are largely the result of the ‘gang system’. 1989 Apr. 154/2 The gang system allows farm managers to cope with the demographic consequence of World War II, in which the Soviet Union lost 20 million of her people. 2007 81 319 Changes in the organization of labor that eventually led to the development of the gang system. 1932 1 Dec. 1/1 With the exception of their version of the play just mentioned and the ‘gang tackle’ of Tyler, Hamburg fans are more than pleased with the fair recital of the game. 1963 R. Smith xii. 141 He did not have to subject himself to the smashing gang-tackles that so often caused him to fumble. 2009 10 Oct. c12 The numbers..finally caught up to him, yielding to a gang-tackle just 1 yard away from high school glory. 1915 (Univ. Nebraska) 146/1 The moment a [basketball] player on either side was so unfortunate as to get hold of the ball, he was gang-tackled by the whole opposing team. 1938 16 Nov. 17/5 I thought he was the most dangerous man on the field... We gang-tackled him. 1947 5 Nov. ii. 9/2 The..players gang tackled fiercely and they went all out on their blocking. 1964 14 May 7 (caption) Police gang tackle a male militant. 1997 10 Aug. c8/1 Walls caught the ball and turned it into a 16-yard gain to the Denver 9, where he was gang-tackled. 2007 13 Aug. 21/1 The story was gang-tackled by six reporters. 1922 3 Jan. iii. 2/8 The easterners surely believe in gang tackling. 1958 22 Dec. 32/2 Gang-tackling is a TCU trademark. 2001 7 Oct. iii. 13/1 We're trying to teach gang tackling and swarming on defense. 1951 24 Aug. 1 (caption) Boy nabbed in ‘rat pack’ gang shooting roundup shows hand bearing 9X gang tattoo. 1980 7 Aug. ix. 12/2 The suspect has a Culver City gang tattoo, police said, but he denied being a gang member. 1998 P. Jooste (1999) xii. 211 My grandmother isn't interested in smoked-up people with gang tattoos all over their arms. 1959 8 Mar. a2/3 David was trying to parade as a leader of the Chaplains, a teen-age gang, and was dreaming of taking over gang turf held by the Champions, Flushing Skulls, Zombies and El Quentos. 1973 13 May i. 44/7 Dressed in business suits, the investigators walk and drive through gang turf. 2009 I. Thomson ii. 27 A youth from Federal Gardens, an adjacent gang turf, had been executed that morning by the police. society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > [noun] > between gangs 1911 13 Feb. 1/2 The police believe the death was the outcome of a gang war. 1959 W. Lewis 12 Dec. (1963) 514 The people were no more troubled than Chicagoans are by gang-wars. 2009 ‘R. Keeland’ tr. S. Larsson xxix. 503 There was nothing to indicate that this was an underworld gang war. society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > [noun] > between gangs 1910 9 Apr. 1/2 A savage audacity that shocked even old timers hardened to gang warfare on the east side. 1962 8 Mar. 235/1 Gang-warfare and teenage problems. 2007 C. MacFarlane (2009) ii. 28 My father also admitted that he had been involved in a lot of gang warfare. 1829 Apr. 445 We should wish to ascertain whether..the whole system of gang-work..might not be changed for some mode of proceeding less calculated to degrade the willing spirit. 1874 W. M. Baines vii. 126 My ten men will get through more ‘gang work’ in one day than I could accomplish in ten. 1896 30 Sept. 5/1 Almost more important than the question of wages is the question of the organisation of gang work. 1991 N. Rush iv. 230 From time to time spontaneous singing would break out during certain kinds of gang work. 1852 J. M. Adams in E. Holmes (1853) 384 The moral condition of these gang workers is most deplorable, and their poverty next to starvation. 1964 D. Matza i. 27 The delinquent..plays on ball teams, belongs to youth organizations like the boy scouts, and even welcomes detached emissaries (i.e., gang workers) from the conventional world. 1988 3 Mar. 16/2 Gangworkers often return home with under £10 for the day. 1999 E. C. Schneider 193 The gang worker had a reasonable hope of persuading peripheral members to break off from the gang. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022). gangv.1 Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian gunga , gonga , (in prefixed formations) -ganga , Middle Dutch gangen , Old Saxon gangan , Old High German gangan (Middle High German gangen ), Old Icelandic ganga , Norn (Shetland) gonga , Old Swedish ganga (Swedish (now archaic or poetic) gånga ), Old Danish gangæ (Danish (now archaic or poetic) gange ), Gothic gaggan , probably < the same Indo-European base as Lithuanian žengti stride, walk, Sanskrit jaṅghā lower leg, and perhaps further related to Early Irish cingid goes, walks. On the question of etymological relationship with go v. (and with other Germanic verbs cited there) see discussion at that entry. For forms developed from a variant of this verb with the palatal consonant of the preterite extended to the present stem see yong v.Restriction largely to the present tense and infinitive. In Old English this verb occurs frequently in the present tense and infinitive, often interchangeably with the somewhat more common go v. It occurs only rarely in the past tense and past participle. The verb that is normally used in the past tense in corresponding meanings is ēode , the suppletive past tense of go v. (see discussion at that entry). In Scots and in those northern English varieties in which it survives, gang v.1 continues to occur chiefly in the present tense and infinitive, the past generally being supplied by weak past tense forms formed on go v. Uses in other Germanic languages. In Gothic gaggan likewise does not occur in the past tense (except for a single occurrence of a weak past form gaggida ) and is attested only once in the past participle (in the prefixed formation us-gaggana ). There is no Gothic cognate of go v. (except probably in Crimean Gothic). The verb that is normally used in the past tense in corresponding meanings in Gothic is iddja (which may be cognate with Old English ēode , the suppletive past tense of go v.; see discussion at that entry). In other early Germanic languages the cognates of gang v.1 appear to occur freely in the expected range of tenses, e.g. Old Frisian (past tense) geng , gēng , ging , (past participle) gangen , gengen , Old Saxon (past tense) geng , Old High German (past tense) giang , (past participle) gigangan , Old Icelandic (past tense) gekk , (past participle) genginn . The verb remains in normal use in modern Icelandic, but in most of the other modern Germanic languages it is now rare or obsolete in the present tense (at least in the standard language), although in a number of languages forms which are historically the past tense of gang v.1 occur as part of the paradigm of go v., and in some cases the same happens with the past participle forms; compare Dutch gaan (with expected past participle gegaan , but past tense ging ), German gehen (with past tense ging , past participle gegangen ), Swedish gå (with expected past participle gått , but past tense gick ), Danish gå (with expected past participle gået , but past tense gik ). Form history. In Old English, as elsewhere in Germanic, the verb (in so far as it is attested) is usually inflected as a strong verb of Class VII. The present tense regularly shows the stem vowel a before nasal, which is frequently written o in Old English, especially in Anglian sources (see β. forms); in Middle English the reflex o is especially characteristic of the west midland dialects. There are also occasional Northumbrian forms that apparently show the stem vowel u (as in giung- ) and have sometimes been compared to Old Frisian gunga ; for these see yong v. The past participle shows the same inherited stem vowel as the present tense and appears as gangen , gegangen . It is chiefly found in verse (except for prefixed begangen ) and is less frequent than gegān , past participle of go v. The inherited past tense form is apparently gēong (also by inverse spelling as gīong ; both only attested in Beowulf); compare e.g. Old English bēonn , past tense of bannan ban v., and Old High German giang . A past tense form gang is also attested in Beowulf (compare also past plural gangon in Paris Psalter). This has been explained as analogical to past tense forms of strong Class III (compare e.g. sang , past tense of singan sing v.1; although this would not explain the Paris Psalter plural form), but it has alternatively been suggested that it is inherited and shows a different ablaut grade of the base (as has also been suggested to explain the occasional Northumbrian forms with present tense in u ). In Genesis B, beside a singular past subjunctive genge , a 3rd singular past indicative gien is attested, apparently a scribal error for *gieng or *geng (perhaps due to confusion with gēn , gīen ‘yet’); although these forms are comparable to inherited Old English past tense forms (as e.g. hēng : see hang v.), they are almost certainly after Old Saxon geng (attested in the extant fragments of the Old Saxon source of the Old English poem; compare also gieng in an Old Saxon source influenced by Old High German) rather than showing an inherited cognate of the equivalent West Germanic and North Germanic past tense forms (Old Frisian geng , Old Saxon geng , Old High German (rare) geng , Old Icelandic gekk ). The stem of the past tense gēong , unlike the present tense stem, would undergo palatalization of the initial consonant before ēo . Despite the limited attestation of the past tense form in extant sources, the palatalized initial consonant has sometimes apparently been levelled from the past tense forms to the present tense, especially in Northumbrian; Old English forms in which the palatalization of the consonant is indicated in the spelling, and their later reflexes, are covered at yong v. In Old English a weak Class I verb gengan is also attested (chiefly in verse); see geng v. and compare Gothic (weak past tense) gaggida . The late Old English forms gængan , geangan , however, clearly represent forms of gang v.1 (with inverse spellings for a ) rather than of the weak verb. geng v. survives into early Middle English, but Scots past tense gangit is much later and apparently an isolated weak past formed from gang v.1 The modern Scots regional (north-eastern) forms in dy- , di- , j- (especially characteristic of the dialect of Buchan) show palatalization and affrication of initial /ɡ/ to /dʒ/ (compare the palatalized but unaffricated gyang, gying at α. forms, gyong, gyung at β. forms). It is possible that the γ. forms, which apparently show loss or assimilation of medial g (or substitution of alveolar for velar nasal), originated instead as variants of go v. (perhaps influenced by the present participle forms gaun, gan, etc.: see Forms 6α. at that entry). Phrasal meanings. In Old English also occasionally in the phrases ūt gangan , lit. ‘to go out’, gangan tō līchamlicre nēode , lit. ‘to go to one's bodily need’, both in sense ‘to defecate’; compare also gangan ūt (of excrement) to be voided. Compare gong n.1 and discussion at gang n. Prefixed forms. In Old English the prefixed form gegangan to go, proceed, to happen, befall, to enter, get to, reach, to get, obtain (compare y- prefix and i-go v.) is also attested; compare also agangan to go, (of time) to pass, to happen, befall (compare a- prefix1 and ago v.), aweggangan to go away, depart (compare away adv. and away-go at away adv., adj., and n. Compounds 1a), ætgangan atgang v., beforangangan to go before, to go forward (compare before adv. and before-go vb. at before adv., prep., conj., and n. Compounds 3), begangan to traverse, to inhabit, to cultivate, to attend to, care for, to carry out, practise, observe, to worship, revere, to trouble, afflict (compare be- prefix and bego v.), betwēohgangan to go between (compare bitwih prep.), foregangan to precede, go before, to go forth (compare fore- prefix and forego v.), forgangan to forgo, forfeit, pass over (compare for- prefix1 and forgo v.), forþgangan forthgang v., framgangan to go away (compare from prep.), fullgangan to practise, to effect, accomplish, fulfil, to follow, serve (compare full adv.), geondgangan to pass through, move about (compare yond prep.), ingangan to go in, enter (compare in- prefix1 and ingo v.), ofgangan to require, to extort, to obtain (compare of- prefix and ofgo v.), ofergangan overgang v., ongangan to enter (compare on- prefix), ongēangangan to return, to go to meet (compare again- comb. form and again-go v.), tōgangan to-gang v., þurhgangan (see through-gang v.), undergangan undergang v., ūtgangan to go out (compare out- prefix and outgo v.), wiþgangan to go against, to fail (compare with- prefix and withgo v.), ymbgangan (see umbegang vb. at umbe- prefix 1). Chiefly Scottish and English regional ( northern) in later use. 1. the world > movement > progressive motion > move along [verb (intransitive)] OE (2008) 314 Him þa hildedeor [h]of modigra torht getæhte, þæt hie him to mihton gegnum gangan. OE (Julius) 21 Mar. 38 Þonne scineð seo sunne seofon siðum beorhtre ðonne heo nu do, ond heo næfre on setl gangeþ. OE tr. Pseudo-Apuleius (Vitell.) (1984) lii. 98 Syle drincan on godum wine, & þys sy ðonne he gange to bæðe. a1300 (c1275) (1991) 127 Feste ðe of stedefastnesse..& helpe ðe poure men ðe gangen abuten. 1386 in D. Macpherson et al. (1819) II. 85 The son gangand to rest. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 1396 By þis way byhoves us al gang, Bot be we war we ga noght wrang. c1440 (Thornton) (1913) 77 (MED) When þe bate was made, he gert a knyght of his gang in-to it. 1572 (a1500) (1882) 447 Gangand with laidis, my gouerning to get. 1603 cxxxii. sig. E3v Gang hence..to the Farie, With me thow may na langer tarie. 1657 T. Aylesbury v. 77 But you whose sins are of a deeper grain..gang ye on pilgrimage to Rome. 1786 R. Burns Twa Dogs ii, in 10 Some place far abroad, Where sailors gang to fish for Cod. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian i, in 2nd Ser. III. 23 Oh, Jeanie, gang up the stair, and look at them! 1828 W. Carr (ed. 2) at Sops When it gangs up i sops it'll fall down i drops. 1836 14 433 That's a roughsome way o' ganging to work. 1893 R. O. Heslop ‘To gan wi'’ is to make away with. 1910 N. Munro in B. D. Osborne & R. Armstrong (1993) i. xxxii. 147 Gang to the door and see if he hasna tummelt on your bass. 1932 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ 169 For God's sake gang to yuur bed, lass, I'll tend to the rest. 1969 S. Dobson 26 By, he wez a bad 'un, aalways gannin' roond the clubs. 2001 (Nexis) 25 Aug. 16 ‘Ah'm ganging' sooth the day for a peerie hoalieday,’ said the wifie. society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] OE (2008) 711 Ða com of more..Grendel gongan. OE (Julius) 6 July 140 Ða geuntrumade he mid þære mettrymnesse podagre.., ond he ne mihte longe tid owiht gangan. lOE (Hatton) (1953) 164 Þa wes þeaw þam ilcan arwyrþestan biscope Ceaddan þet he godspell geond stowe bodade ma gongende þonne ridende. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 12855 He þær þe laferrd crist. Sahh ganngenn. & nohht stanndenn. c1300 (Laud) (1868) l. 370 Til þat he kouþen speken wit tunge; Speken and gangen, on horse riden. c1400 (a1376) W. Langland (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. ii. 132 Anoyed þei were þat symonye & cyuyle shulde on here fet gange. c1550 (1979) v. 27 Quhen ve ar tirit to gang on oure feit, ve ar solist to seik horse to ryde. 1609 J. Skene tr. ii. 134 Na man rydand vpon ane horse sould keepe them, quha standes or ganges behinde his horse heeles. 1712 J. Arbuthnot iii. 15 I do not care for your flaunting Beaus, that gang with their Breasts open. ?1811 W. Robertson Baron of Gartley in G. Greig (1909) I. lxix It's but my silly bower woman That's gangin' in her sleep. 1866 G. Chatt 87 The bairns was put to wark as seun as they could gan. 1909 P. W. Joyce 54 My staff and long pike to fight the dogs as I gang. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] OE Ælfric Homily (Corpus Cambr. 162) in J. C. Pope (1967) I. 289 Þa cwæð se Hælend hyre to, Gang [L. vade], clypa þinne wer, and cum hider þonne. c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 166 He was assurit to cum and nocht to gang. a1500 (a1460) (1994) I. vi. 62 Deus. The day spryngys; now lett me go. Iacob. Nay, nay, I will not so, Bot thou blys me or thou gang. a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 983 in W. A. Craigie (1925) II. 125 We cum pure we gang pure baith king & commoun. 1570 R. Sempill (single sheet) The Barronis biddis ȝow schortly byde or gang. 1683 G. Meriton 10 I mun be ganging nowe. 1725 A. Ramsay v. ii. 76 Ye intend to..take your Leave of Patrick or he gang. 1829 G. Alexander 184 We maun be gangin', Sawnie; it will be dark or lang. 1904 (new ed.) 14 Ye'se preeve hid [sc. gin] afore we gang. 1936 J. Buchan viii. 153 His lordship comes and gangs like a bog-blitter. 2000 J. Tulloch vi. 114 Ye're a bit late, pet mind. Ah'm just gannin' mesel'. the world > action or operation > behaviour > follow (a course of behaviour) [verb (transitive)] > adopt a course OE (1932) cxxvii. 1 Eadige..syndon ealle þe him ecne God drihten ondrædað, and his gedefne weg on hyra lifes tid lustum gangað. lOE lxxx. 14 Si plebs mea audisset me Israel si vias meas ambulasset : gif folc min gehireþ me Israhele gif wegas mine gangaþ. a1450 (1885) 157 Agaynewarde rede I þat we gang The right way to þat same citee. a1450 (1885) 380 (MED) Lay on hym þan hardely, And garre hym gang his gate. c1480 (a1400) St. James Less 803 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) I. 173 Þane tytus bad hyme gange his way. ?1507 Ballad of Kynd Kittok in W. Dunbar sig. b.ivv Out of hevin the hie gait cought [1568 cowth] the wif gang. 1613 in S. Ree (1908) II. 136 Elspet gang your way hame again, ye are in our buiks els. 1650 J. Row 4 Balaam was ganging an unluckie gate. 1712 J. Arbuthnot iv. 18 Tell him he may e'en gan his get, I'll have nothing to do with him. 1797 M. Robinson IV. lxxix. 119 Gang your ways, for a crabbed auld cat-a-murrain! 1823 W. Scott II. iii. 60 [He] lets a' things about the Manse gang whilk gate they will. 1885 J. B. Gough xxix. 374 Woh, woh! He is gangin' the wrong way. 1904 S. R. Crockett xxxix. 324 Ebenezer Sinclair wad be sair vexed to see ony that belonged to ye gangin' that road. 1955 in D. M. Wolfe 2 54 Well, gang your way then, tie yoursel' down to him as is neither bachelor nor husband. 2006 (Nexis) 10 Dec. 14 If the SNP fell short of seats, McConnell could gang his ain gait, relying on Tory votes to support education reforms. OE Ælfric (Claud.) vii. 14 Gegaderiað eow be mægðum & gange ðæt gehlot fram mægðe to mægðe. OE Regularis Concordia (Tiber.) in (1886) 9 295 Syððan he gange [L. ueniat] to þam oþran gebede & singe þa twegan æftre sealmas... Syððan he gange to þam þriddan oratione. lOE (Corpus Cambr.) (1997) 83 Ic bidde..ealle þa wise ræderes þe to þissere rædinge ganggað, þæt heo me ne fordeman. 1385 in D. Macpherson et al. (1819) II. 73 Haveand the force and effecte in all poyntz as the next trewe gangand before. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) xv. l. 268 Till king robert will we gang, That we haf [left] vnspokyn of lang. 1521 in A. Maxwell (1891) 23 That the bred sall gang to procure offerings to Sanct Thomas. 1577 733/2 Passand southeist as the commoun gait gangis. 1603 G. Owen (1891) 269 Fowlinge also claimeth a place with the pleasures of this Countrey..yt shall gang amonge them and truelye not vnworthylye. 1768 A. Ross ii. 74 She says, my heart is like to gang awa', An' I maun e'en sit down, or else I'll fa'. 1816 W. Scott II. ix. 246 We'll gang quietly about our job our twa sells, and naebody the wiser for't. 1866 Oct. 211 What was it that ye was ganging to tell me, Mistress Rabbitts? Is the young leddy ganging to be wedded? 1934 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ iii. 205 He'd pressed him over-hard and his nerve would gang. 1991 T. Scott in T. Hubbard 43 Gang, O my poem, gang strecht ti yon woman. 2010 May 16/1 Look at them, gannin' for it like the half-time match analysis is on. 4. the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > result [verb (intransitive)] > turn out > in a specific manner OE 42 Swa þæt geara iu Godes spelbodan wordum sægdon ond þurh witedom eal anemdon, swa hit nu gongeð. OE (1932) lxxii. 13 Ic þæs wende, þæt ic mid wisdome full gleawlice ongitan mihte, hu þis gewinn wolde gangan. c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 55 Quhen the senatouris saw the fortune gang agaynis thame sa aukwartly. ?a1597 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (Edinb. Laing 447) l. 521 in (1910) 40 Thy work will not gang weill. 1786 R. Burns To Mouse vii, in 140 The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, Gang aft agley. 1868 J. Gordon viii. 74 I think a' thing is ganging wrang thegither. 1881 G. MacDonald xi. 124 Things warna gangin' sae ill wi' her as ye thoucht. 1934 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ ii. 164 Life that would gang as it would, greeting or laughing, unheeding her fears. 2001 J. Tulloch (2002) 139 ‘How's it gannin'?’ ‘Canny; yersel'?’ the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > be or remain in specific state or condition [verb (intransitive)] > come or be brought to a state or condition eOE (Corpus Cambr. 173) lxix. 118 Sceap sceal gongan mid his fliese oð midne sumor. OE (1932) lxiii. 6 Gangeð man manig modig on heortan, oðþæt hine ahefeð hælend drihten. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 4508 Wha se maȝȝ forrwerrpenn itt [sc. sin]..& ganngenn unnderr preostess dom. To betenn itt wiþþ shriffte. a1400 (a1325) (Trin. Cambr.) l. 13267 (MED) Ihesu þouȝt hit was ful longe Wiþouten felowshipe to gonge. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 10898 (MED) Sco had conceiued of hir husband, Sex monet nu wit child gangand. a1500 (a1460) (1994) I. xi. 103 For ye with childe in elde gang. 1638 in W. N. Clarke (1848) 173 Her ministers gangand in guid auld little short cloakes, with wea blacke velvet neckes. 1806 A. Douglas 169 The Hiney-Moon will ne'er gang done, If guidit weel an' a' that. 1891 ‘H. Haliburton’ 116 Yonder..Comes Packie owre the brig; An' country lads may noo gang braw. 1925 G. Greig & A. Keith 209 When he went to his lady, She was like to gang brain [i.e. furious]. 2001 H. M. Brown in M. Vause 290 ‘No just aboot tae gang bankrupt.’ Allan sneered. 5. society > trade and finance > money > circulation of money > be in circulation [verb (intransitive)] OE (Corpus Cambr.) iii. viii. 204 Gange an mynet ofer ealne þæs cyninges anweald..& gange an gemet & an gewihte, swilce man on Lundenbirig & on Wintaceastre healde. c1485 ( G. Hay (1993) i. 5 Thare is a grete renoune gangand jn ferr contreis of a grete assemblee. 1567 R. Sempill (single sheet) Thair name sall gang quhair euer the Sone do ryse. ?c1615 (1830) 109 Theais quha had done the fact gart the word gang that the same wes done be Mwrray and Mortoune, or at the least be thair counsell. 1827 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xxx, in Jan. 105 Ane o' the bawbees o' an obsolete sort, that wadna gang now-a-days. the world > action or operation > operate [verb (intransitive)] > of a piece of mechanism lOE (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1131 Ðes ilces geares wæs swa micel orfcwalm..swa þet on þa tun þa wæs tenn ploges oðer twelfe gangende, ne belæf þær noht an. 1556 in J. D. Marwick (1871) II. 249 The said myln being biggit and perfyttit sufficientlie gangand agane the said terme. 1595 in J. Stuart (1848) II. 120 To reull the saidis tua knockis, and to cause thame gang and strik the houris richtlie bayth nicht and day. 1625 in J. D. Marwick (1881) II. 564 To haif ane ingle of collis thairin..that the mylne may gang in tyme of frost. 1904 ‘H. Foulis’ xxi. 137 Their bonny wee watches that never gang because they're never rowed up. Compounds 1817 W. Scott xxv Mercy on me that I suld live in my auld days to gie the gang-bye to the very writer. 1896 H. Drummond xi. 280 It's no fair dealin' wi' an auld servant tae gie him the gang-bye when sic things is gaein' on as auld Nickie himsel' kens what. society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [adjective] > with no fixed aim or wandering > as a vagabond or tramp 1815 W. Scott I. i. 10 I darena for my life open the door to ony of your gang-there-out sort o' bodies. 1817 W. Scott II. x. 205 We gang-there-out Hieland bodies are an unchancey generation. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022). gangv.2 Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: gang n. Etymology: < gang n. With sense 3 compare slightly earlier ganging n.2 society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > provide with tools [verb (transitive)] > arrange to work simultaneously 1771 G. Cartwright 18 Feb. (1792) 94 The woodmen were employed in new-casting, and ganging fishing leads. 1865 Nov. 381/1 The other two machines, to meet the broad views of Mr. S., we found ganged together, thus cultivating six feet in width. 1899 23 Aug. 17/1 Most of the machines are adapted to be ganged together by means of brackets, thus making it convenient to run a number of machines in a gang. 1947 H. H. Aiken in II. 14-3 In the case of addition and subtraction, this was obtained by ganging two adding counters together to produce an accuracy of forty-six columns. 1964 6 June 1149/2 Adaptation..made it feasible for disc-plows to be ‘ganged’ so that several could be pulled at once. 1973 Jan. 1430/1 I wonder why it is necessary to have separate tape speed and equalisation switches? It would obviously simplify operation if these were ganged together. 1995 J. McEnally & L. McEnally 14 By ganging the hooks in a similar fashion to a tailor rig the bait..has the added strike power of two points. society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate together or with [verb (intransitive)] ?1791 ‘M. Rosibonne’ 6 Will you suffer that a colluvies of non-citizens, obstinately proud of their dissention, should publicly gang together in the temple of the Eternal God? 1837 M. M. Sherwood iv. xvii. 391 The boy is off with them gypsies; and as sure as hur is ganged with them, hur'll come to the gallows. 1912 J. L. Alexander v. 169 It affords early adolescent boys a chance to ‘gang’ together. 1928 W. A. White 348 He was frail [in his boyhood] and never ganged with his fellows. 1946 C. Himes in Apr.–May 10/1 Some pachuco kids were ganged about the juke box, talking in Mex, and blowing weed. 1958 M. Davis xv. 213 Before adolescence boys ganged with other small boys and little girls huddled together like downy chicks. 1991 M. Dibdin 107 They ganged together round the buffet, whingeing about business and interest-rate hikes. society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a company or body of persons > form into company [verb (transitive)] 1848 June 32 As many as five hundred males are ganged together, deprived entirely of the society of females, for the simple purpose of exacting from them the utmost amount of labour. 1856 F. L. Olmsted 234 They were worked, white and black slaves, criminal and bonded servants, all ganged together. 1885 18 July 8/1 After the Penjdeh incident about two thousand men were ganged out to strengthen the works. 1932 Mar. 25 The Hebrew officials who ganged the workers, and who must have kept regular lists and accounts..show that there was a business-like record kept up. Phrasal verbs the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come in [verb (intransitive)] > in a crowd 1891 Miss Willard in 12 Nov. The dozen or fifteen barefooted urchins who in the later summer season ganged in from the river side and prairie. Originally U.S.society > society and the community > social relations > association for a common purpose > associate for common purpose [verb (intransitive)] 1910 13 Feb. v. 2/1 There was a gun fight in the street one day and an awful tough crowd ganged up in a hurry. 1941 L. M. Cobb & M. A. Hicks in J. F. Dobie et al. 111 Dey all gangs up den an' makes plans ter run Brer Man out'n dem woods an' ter keep him out'n dar fer all de time. 1959 ‘J. Byrom’ i. 16 He'll get David to gang up with him and stop me sailing. 1986 R. Reagan in R. E. Weber & R. A. Weber (2003) 259 I was afraid I'd hit some of the photographers who had ganged up around the catcher. 2006 5 May 35/1 (headline) Big boys gang up to defeat Rio Tinto. 1919 Nov. 270/1 He's too dern big for any of us to lick separate, and he don't listen to reason, none at all. Looks like we'd have to gang up on him. 1942 D. Powell (1943) xiv. 332 Things must have gone wrong with her!.. Maybe he's got people to gang up against her. 1973 L. Bangs in G. Marcus (1987) 121 The financial angels and bureaucratic bosses of the studio that sponsored and released it ganged up on the poor guy that made the film. 2001 (National ed.) 18 Oct. a31/1 Do not let China and Russia gang up on us in a trilateral meeting. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < |
