▪ I. gaggle, n.
(ˈgæg(ə)l)
Forms: 4–9 gagle, 5–6 gagyll, 6– gaggle.
[f. the vb.]
1. a. A flock (of geese); also derisively, a company (of women).
One of the many artificial terms invented in the 15th c. as distinctive collectives referring to particular animals or classes of persons; but unlike most of the others, it seems to have been actually adopted in use.
| c 1470 in Hors, Shepe & G. etc. (Caxton 1479, Roxb. repr.) 30 A gagyll of ghees A gagyll of women. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. xiii. xxx. 338 A shoale of goslings, or (as they saie) a gaggle of geese. 1676 Coles, A Gagle of geys, a flock of Geese. 1827 P. Hawker Diary (1893) I. 309 A gaggle of more than average chattering women. 1882 Sir R. Payne-Gallwey Fowler in Irel. v, That last tempting gaggle of Brent Geese. |
b. Also transf., a group of people or things, esp. a disorderly assemblage; spec. (slang) a group of aircraft.
| 1946 G. Gibson Enemy Coast Ahead 206 We started off first in squadrons, then in wings and finally in a sort of formation known as a group gaggle, meaning a flock of geese. 1946 E. C. Cheesman Brief Glory vi. 73 Ferry pilots had to fly in ‘gaggles’ to make it easier for the Observer Corps. 1956 J. E. Johnson Wing Leader i. 13 We curved across Berlin, sparred cautiously with large gaggles of Russian fighters. 1966 Listener 8 Sept. 354/1 There is hardly a modern skyscraper in midtown that does not have its gaggle of sightseers. 1971 Islander (Victoria, B.C.) 21 Mar. 14/3 A gaggle of sparsely inhabited islands. |
2. Chatter, gabble.
| 1668 R. L'Estrange Vis. Quev. (1708) 29 A Consort of loud and tedious Talkers, that Tired and Deafn'd the Company with their shrill and restless Gaggle. |
▪ II. gaggle, v.
(ˈgæg(ə)l)
Forms: 4 gagul, 5–7 gagle, (5 gagelyn, 6 gagyll), 6– gaggle.
[Prob. an onomatopœic formation (with frequentative suffix) on the syllable gag (gag-gag) often used to imitate the cry of the goose. Cf. gabble, cackle.
A similar imitation of the same sound appears as the root of OCeltic *gegdâ, Irish geadh, Welsh gwydd, goose, and of ON. gagl goose. Cf. also mod.Icel. gagga to gaggle.]
1. intr. Of geese: To cackle; see cackle v. 1. Also with forth.
| 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles iii. 101 Þey gaglide fforth on the grene, ffor they greved were. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 184/2 Gagelyn, or cryyn as gees, clingo. a 1483 Burlesque in Rel. Ant. I. 86 The goos gagult ever more, the gam was better to here. 1529 More Supplic. Soulys Wks. 302/2 This goseling..gagleth again vpon the same matter. 1614 T. Adams Devil's Banquet 58 These are..the Geese in the Capitall to gaggle at Statesmen in the Common-wealth. 1744 J. Claridge's Sheph. Banbury's Rules 40 If geese gaggle more than usual, these are all signs of rain. 1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles xxiv. 245 [He] gave no ear to his own geese gaggling near his barn. 1884 Pall Mall G. 8 Mar. 4/2 Every bird gaggling his loudest. |
| quasi-trans. 1645 Sacred Decretal 3 Geese and Ganders..hisse and gaggle him out of his Five pestilent senses. |
† 2. transf. and fig. To make a noise like geese; to talk volubly, to chatter. Obs.
| c 1553 Chancelour Bk. Emp. Russia in Hakluyt (1886) III. 50 But when the Priest is at seruice no man sitteth, but gagle and ducke like so many Geese. 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) Taylor's Goose Wks. i. 105/1 How grauely they from place to place will waggle And how (like Gossips) freely will they gaggle. 1706 Refl. Ridicule (1707) 325 They gaggle all at a time; as if it was for a Wager, who should make the greatest noise. |
† 3. trans. To utter like a goose; to express with gaggling or cackling; to babble, prattle. Also with out. Obs.
| 1577 Stanyhurst Descr. Irel. i. 3 in Holinshed Chron. I, It is not expedient that the Irishe tongue should be so vniuersally gagled in the English pale. c 1645 Howell Lett. (1688) IV. 476 A Countryman..answer'd That he thought the Geese about Oxford did gaggle Greek. 1650 B. Discolliminium 2 We need not fear..that she will gaggle any Treason. Ibid. 25 Had my Goose gagled out such a..doctrine [etc.]. |
Hence ˈgaggler, one who gaggles, a goose.
| 1624 Bp. R. Montagu Gagg To Rdr. 7 As meere a gaggler as euer grased vpon a greene. |