gangrel dial. and arch.
(ˈgæŋgrəl)
Forms: 6 gangarall (pl. gangralis), 6–7 gangrill, 7 gang(e)rell, 8 gangril, 9 gangerill, 7– gangrel.
[app. f. gang n.1 or v.1, on some obscure analogy; cf. poveral (with which this word is associated in quot. 1538); the ending occurs, though perh. from diverse sources, in several depreciative terms, as haverel, mongrel, gomeril, doggrel, wastrel. A derivative of the same root with similar meaning is MHG. gengelære, G. gängler (in 18th c. said of a packman or pedlar), f. gängeln to walk about.
There is no connexion (beyond identity of root-syllable) with ON. Gangleri (mythical name), which has often been compared: the endings have only a chance resemblance.]
1. A vagabond: a wandering beggar.
| c 1340 Hampole Perfect Living viii. in Wks. 1895 I. 33 Gangrels, and Iangelers, & kepers of comers and gangars arely & late. 1530 Extracts Aberdeen Reg. (1844) 130 That na strangearis nor gangerallis cum within the samyn. a 1605 Polwart Flyting 772 Gleyd gangrell, auld mangrell. 1625 Gill Sacr. Philos. vii. 92 When all charity is put only in the maintenance of idlenesse and begging Gangrels. 1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss., Gangerill, a pedlar, a beggar. 1895 Crockett Men of Mosshags 329 Out on you, gangrel. |
b. attrib. or adj. Vagabond, vagrant.
| 1538 Aberdeen Reg. V. 15 (Jam.) That na strangearis, nor gangralis puirralis be ressate nor haldyn in this tovnne. 1637–50 Row Hist. Kirk (1842) 457 His wife for povertie turned ane gangrell poore woman, selling some small wares. 1776 C. Keith Farmer's Ha' 33 There's mony a sturdy gangrel chiel That might be winnin' meat fu' weel. 1785 Burns Jolly Beggars 8 A merry core O' randie, gangrel bodies. 1815 Scott Guy M. iii, He's nae gentleman..wad grudge twa gangrel puir bodies the shelter o' a waste house. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. II. iii. 40 This gangrel thief thought fit to tread The grass to mammocks by my head. 1895 Crockett Sweeth. Trav. 93 Without troubling about suspicious gangrel bodies. |
2. A lanky, loose-jointed person. (Cf. gangling.)
| 1585 Higins tr. Junius' Nomenclator 449/1 A long gangrell: a slim: a long tall fellow that hath no making to his height. 1606 Holland Sueton. Annot. 36 b, Ajax..unto whom or to whose long pike rather, he likeneth this gangrell. 1611 Cotgr., Trente-costes, a gangerell, slimme, long luske, lanke loobie. 1721 Bailey, Gangrel..a tall ill-shaped Fellow. 1873 Swaledale Gloss., Gangrel, an awkward fellow. 1884 Upton-on-Severn Gloss., Gangril, a lanky, ungainly creature, whether man or beast. |
b. attrib. as adj.
| 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet. 10 A long gangrel neck, which would have made the head look as set upon a pole. |
3. Sc. A child just beginning to walk. rare.
| 1768 Ross Helenore 6 Helenore, a gangrel now was grown, And had begun to toddle about the town. |
4. north. dial. A toad. Cf. gagrill.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems liv. 7 Scho is tute mowitt lyk an aip, And lyk a gangarall [v.r. gangarull] unto graip. 1847–78 in Halliwell. 1855–76 in Whitby Glossaries. |