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gag(5) (iou)



gag verb1. [gag] Infl. -gg-. ME.
[Origin uncertain; perh. imit. of choking sound, or rel. to Old Norse gaghals with the neck thrown back.]
a. verb trans. Strangle, suffocate. Only in ME.
b. verb intrans. & trans. Choke; (cause to) retch. E18.
T. Keneally A dozen people were gagging or comatose from swallowing cyanide. G. Keillor A repulsive gelatinous fishlike dish that..gave off an odor that would gag a goat. fig.: Clive James Even Mozart..would gag at so much worship.
verb trans. Stop the mouth of (a person) to prevent speech or outcry; put a gag into or over (a person's mouth). E16.
gagging order colloq. a document signed by a government minister or senior civil servant which prevents specified information from being used in a trial (officially called public interest immunity certificate).
Jonson Gag him, we may have his silence.
b. Keep the mouth of (a patient, an animal) open with a gag. L16.
c. Deprive of the power or freedom of speech; stop the mouth of. E17.
Ld Macaulay The time was not yet come when eloquence was to be gagged and reason hoodwinked.
verb trans. Apply a gag-bit to the mouth of (a horse); confine unduly the mouth of (a horse). M19.
verb intrans. Orig. Theatrical. Make gags or jokes. Also, ad-lib. M19.
verb intrans. be gagging for, be desperately eager for; esp. (with it) be eager for sex. slang. L20.
A. McNab Joseph..was gagging for a cigarette and he was always asking for them. Jim White Floor to ceiling totty, gagging for it. Can't remember mine's name.
gagger noun1 E17.