hewgag U.S.
(ˈhjuːgæg)
[Of uncertain origin.
It has been suggested that it is ‘prob. based on gewgaw, a jew's harp’.]
A toy musical instrument for children, consisting of a wooden tube with a hole near one end, and the other closed by a piece of parchment, the vibration of which produces a wailing sound. (Humorously referred to as a sound of jubilation.)
| 1850 California Courier (San Francisco) 6 Sept. 2/3 Beat the hong-gong; sound the hew-gag! 1855 Vermont Free Press 8 June (Th.), The T.I.N. Horn-et Band, with Sackbut, Psaltery, Dulcimer,..and Hugag, marched next. 1858 S. Bowles in Merriam Life (1885) I. 295 To-day Hanscombe sends a letter ‘all about it’, setting it out with the accompanying ‘sound of hew-gag’. 1889 Voice (N.Y.) 21 Nov., When a leading paper..sounds the hewgag, other papers..take up the cry, and repeat it. 1905 B. Tarkington In Arena 152 He had all the honours..; professors and students all kow-towed and sounded the hew-gag before him. |