▪ I. gadge, n. ? pseudo-arch.
Used by Browning as the name of some instrument of torture.
Perh. a mistaken phonetic apprehension of gagge, old spelling of gag n.1
| 1845 Browning Soul's Trag. i. 332 The dead back-weight of the beheading axe! The glowing trip-hook, thumb-screws and the gadge! |
▪ II. gadge, v. Sc.
(gadʒ)
intr. (See quot.)
| 1719 Ramsay 2nd Answ. Hamilton iii, It sets ye well indeed to gadge! Ibid. Gloss., Gadge, to dictate impertinently, talk idly with a stupid gravity. |
▪ III. gadge
obs. f. gage n.1 and Sc. f. gauge.