▪ I. gadling1
(ˈgædlɪŋ)
[f. gad n.1 + -ling.]
One of the small spikes of metal affixed to the knuckles of a gauntlet.
| [a 1360 Chronicon Galfridi le Baker (1889) 113 Thomas quibusdam stimulis curtis et acutis quos manum dextram comprimendo digitorum nodi radicales e cirotecis laminatis expresserunt, et eos moderni vocant gadelinges, nudam Johannis faciem wlneravit.] 1592 Stow Ann. 386 Certayne prickes both short and sharpe, then [1351: see above] called Gadlings, beeing closed in the ioyntes of his right gauntlet. 1834 J. R. Planché Brit. Costume x. 138 The backs of the leathern gauntlets were also furnished with overlapping plates, and the knuckles armed with knobs or spikes of iron, called gads or gadlings. 1877 Athenæum 3 Nov. 571/3 Earl Ralph wears..gadlings on his gauntlets. |
▪ II. † gadling2 Obs.
Forms: 1 gædeling, 3–5 gad-, gedeling, -(e)lyng (in late MSS. corruptly, godlinge, geldinge), 4–7 gadling.
[OE. gædeling = OS. gaduling, OHG. gateling (MHG. getelinc), Goth. gadiligg-s:—OTeut. *gaduliŋgo-z f. root *gad- (in OE. gæd fellowship, ᵹegada companion, gather v.) + -ling.]
1. Originally, a companion or fellow, in good sense; esp. a companion in arms.
| Beowulf 2617 His gædelinges guðᵹewædu. c 1000 Daniel 422 Hwa þa ᵹyfe sealde ᵹingum gædelingum. c 1205 Lay. 12335 Alle þa gadelinges Alse heo weoren sunen kinges. a 1250 Prov. ælfred 312 in O.E. Misc. 120 So is mony gedelyng godlyche on horse. 13.. K. Alis. 1192 Fiftene thousand of fot laddes..And alle stalworthe gadelynges. |
2. In bad sense, as a term of reproach: A base, low-born person, a ‘fellow’.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 310 Þe beste body & noblest..yslawe was þoru a gadelyng, so vyllyche, alas! c 1400 Gamelyn 107, I am no worse gadelyng..But born of a lady, and geten of a knight. c 1475 Rauf Coiȝear 612 Quhair gangis thow, Gedling, thir gaitis sa gane? ? a 1500 Chester Pl. (E.E.T.S.) x. 237 That false gedlinge [v.r. gelding]. 15.. Robd. Cysille in Hazl. E.P.P. I. 273 Fals thefe, and fowle gadlyng, Thou lyest falsely. |
3. A wanderer, wayfarer, vagabond.
| a 1542 Wyatt in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 41 The wandring gadling, in the sommer tyde, That findes the Adder with his rechlesse foote. 1565 Maister Randolphes Phantasey 539 The amased lewsarde..from the wandringe gadlinge hasteth amayne. |
4. Hence attrib. (in sense of ‘wandering’, as if formed from a verb gaddle); also as vbl. n.
| 1594 Carew Tasso (1881) 98 Nor on the promisde ten alone relyes, But trusts he stealth should more a gaddling lead. c 1624 Lushington Resur. Serm. (1659) 15 Three way-going women, gadling gossips that came from Galilee. 1676 Coles, Gadling, stradling. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Gadling (old word), straggling. |