gavelock Obs. exc. Hist. and dial.
(ˈgævələk)
Forms: 1 gafeluc, gaveluc, 2–4 gaveloc, 4–6 gavelok (gaw-), 5 gavilok, gavylok, 6 gaiflok, 6–7 gavelocke, 9 gav'loc(k), gowelock, dial. geavelock (-lick), 4, 7– gavelock.
[OE. gafeluc str. masc. has the form of a regular dim. of gafel, ᵹeafel fork (see gable n.); the senses, however, are somewhat difficult to account for on this view of the etymology: evidence is lacking for the supposition that the word originally meant a forked or barbed arrow (cf. fork n. 9) and a forked crowbar.
Words of closely similar form and meaning are ON. gaflak, gaflok neut. javelin (perh. adopted from Eng.), Welsh gaflach (said to mean ‘bearded arrow’), Irish gabhla lance, ONF. gavelot (12th c.), gaverlot, gavrelot, garlot (= Central F. javelot, It. giavelotto) javelin, whence MDu. gavelot, gaverloot, MHG. gabilôt; see also gaff n.1 The relation between the words is uncertain. Thurneysen, followed by most recent etymologists, regards the Romanic word as of Celtic origin; the OE. word may possibly be adopted from the OF. (though recorded earlier) or from its source.]
1. A spear for throwing; a dart, javelin.
| c 1000 ælfric Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 143/6 Hastilia, gafelucas. c 1050 in Napier O.E. Glosses I. 4238 Catapultas, gauelucas. 1183 Jocelin de Brakelonda (Camden) 35 Baculum meum excussi ad modum teli quod vocatur gaveloc. a 1259 Matth. Paris an. 1256 (Rolls) V. 550 Frisones igitur..ipsum Willelmum cum jaculis, quae vulgariter gavelocos appellant, quorum maxime noticiam habent et usum..hostiliter insequebantur. a 1300 E.E. Psalter liv. 22 [lv. 21] (Horstm.) Nesched als oyle his saghs bene, And þai ere gauelokes [L. jacula] þam bitwene. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 297 Þe Waleis partie had vmbilaid þe brigge. With gauelokes and dartes suilk ore was non sene. c 1400 Sowdone Bab. 1426 Thai hurte him foule and slough his hors With gauylokes and wyth dartis. c 1450 Merlin 300, I saugh hem launche at hym knyves and gavelokkes and dartes. a 1650 Merlin 2138 in Furniv. Percy Folio I. 489 [He] bare a gauelocke in his hand. 1817 J. F. Pennie Royal Minstr. v. 390 Two hundred spearmen, bearing each His gav'loc crown'd with a stern warrior's head. |
† 2. An artificial spur for a fighting cock. Obs. (Cf. gablock 1, gaff 3 a, gaffle 3, gafflet.)
| 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 175 Cocks as big as Turkies: which they Arm with Razors tied flat under the Claws, and faulched Two Inches, instead of Gavelocks. |
3. An iron crowbar or lever. (Cf. gablock 2.)
| 1497 in Ld. Treas. Acc. Scotl. (1877) I. 349 Item, giffin for xiij stane of irne, to mak grath to Mons new cradill, and gavilokkis to ga with hir. 1558 Lanc. Wills III. 80, viij. mylne pycke ij axes one gavelocke of iron. c 1632 in Brand Hist. Newcastle (1789) I. 370 note, One iron gavelock, and one swea tree with two rolles for taking and laying down lairstones. 1681 H. More Exp. Dan. i. 6 Thou sawest moreover a Stone cut out without hands, no man with Axe or Gavelock dissevering it. 1804 R. Anderson Cumberld. Ball., Jeff & Job ii, Nin leyke thee cud fling the geavelick. 1839 Ure Dict. Arts 758 The greater part of the matters contained in the [lead] furnace is drawn over on the work-stone, by means of a large rake called a gowelock. 1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss., Geavelock, a large iron crowbar for raising stone. 1880 Antiquary Apr. 187 On trying the ground on the north side of the fence with a gavelock, they came on the cover of a cist. |