Gascon, n.
(ˈgæskən)
Forms: α. 4 Gascoun, 6 Gascone, 7–8 Gascoon, 6, 8– Gascon. β. 5 Gaskin, 6 Gaskyn, -quine, 7 Gascogne, -coine, -coyne, 7–8 Gascoigne, 7, 9 Gascoygne.
[a. F. Gascon; the β forms seem to be influenced by Gascogne Gascony, or derived from the attributive use of this; cf., however, the OF. adj. Gascuinz (:—pop. Lat. type -ōnius).
The name is identical with L. Vasco, Vascones, whence Basque.]
1. A native of Gascony, a former province in south-western France.
| α 1375 Barbour Bruce x. 325 Schir Peris Lumbard, a Gascoun. 1687 [see gasconism]. 1709 Tatler No. 126 ¶4 A young Coquet Widow in France having been followed by a Gascon of Quality who [etc.]. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis I. xxvii. 262 He is a Gascon, and comes from the borders of Spain. 1959 Chambers's Encycl. VI. 176/2 The Gascons were virtually independent under their national dukes until 1032. |
| β 1603 Florio Montaigne ii. viii. (1632) 214, I have seen diverse so inured to that vice [stealing] that..they would..steale such things, as they would restore again. I am a Gascoine, and there is no vice wherein I have less skill. 1608 in Crt. & Times Jas. I (1849) I. 78 There be 800 Gascoignes at Dieppe, attending passage for Holland. |
2. One who resembles a Gascon in character; a braggart, boaster (the natives of Gascony being notorious as such).
| a 1771 Smollett Song in Anderson Brit. Poets (1795) X. 959/1 A peacock in pride, in grimace a baboon, In courage a hind, in conceit a Gascoon. 1814 Sir R. Wilson Priv. Diary II. 345 He was exceedingly interesting, very candid, and by no means a Gascon for himself or his brethren in arms. 1826 Scott Diary 29 Aug. in Lockhart, They [the Irish] are the Gascons of Britain. 1836 W. Irving Astoria I. 66 The Canadians especially, who..have a considerable dash of the gascon, were buoyant and boastful, and great braggarts as to the future. 1867 J. W. Hales in Furniv. Percy Folio MS. I. 58 Here..the King of Cornwall plays the gascon, not the King of Little Britain. |
3. attrib. or adj. Pertaining to Gascony.
† Formerly the designation of a kind of wine.
| α ? a 1550 Freiris of Berwik 158 in Dunbar's Poems 290 Thay hald ane gallone full of Gascone wyne. 1581 Acc.-Bk. W. Wray in Antiquary XXXII. 117 One dosse' brode gascon lace, iijs. iiijd.; and ij dosse' narow gascon lace, vs. 1849 James Woodman ii, She did not altogether dislike a moderate portion of Gascon wine. |
| β 1488 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 97/2 A pip of Gaskin wyne, xxj lb. 1556 Nottingham Rec. IV. 113 For sellyng of Gaskyn wyne..aboue the Statute. 1638 Baker tr. Balzac's Lett. (Vol. II) 82 Being a Gascogne Doctour. 1765 Sterne Tr. Shandy VII. xliii. (1802) 101 'Twas a Gascoigne roundelay. Viva la Joia! |
4. ellipt. for
† a. Gascon wine (
obs.);
b. Gascon dialect.
| 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) Wks. iii. 65 No Gascoygne, Orleance, or the Chrystall Sherrant, Nor Rhenish from the Rheine would be apparant. 1813 A. Bruce Life Alex. Morus ii. 14 Because they do not speak Gascon in Touraine. 1860 All Year Round No. 68. 420 The Basque and Béarnais along the Western Pyrenees, the Gascon throughout the regions of the Landes [etc.]. |