Gin , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ginned (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Ginning.]
1. To catch in a trap. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
2. To clear of
seeds by a machine; as, to gin cotton.
Gin (?), n. [A contraction of engine.]
1. Contrivance; artifice; a trap; a snare. Chaucer. Spenser.
2. (a) A machine for
raising or moving heavy weights,
consisting of a tripod formed of poles united at the top, with a windlass, pulleys, ropes, etc. (b) (Mining) A hoisting drum, usually vertical; a whim.
3. A machine for
separating the seeds from cotton; a cotton gin.
&fist; The name is also given to
an instrument of torture worked with screws, and to a pump moved
by rotary sails.
Gin block, a simple form
of tackle block, having one wheel, over which a
rope runs; -- called also whip gin, rubbish pulley, and monkey wheel. -- Gin power, a form of horse
power for driving a cotton gin. -- Gin race, or Gin ring, the path of the horse when putting a gin
in motion.
Halliwell. -- Gin saw, a saw used in a cotton gin for drawing the fibers through the grid, leaving the seed in the hopper. -- Gin wheel. (a) In a
cotton gin, a wheel for drawing the fiber through the grid; a brush wheel to clean away
the lint. (b) (Mining) the drum of a whim.
Gin (?), n. [Contr. from Geneva. See 2d Geneva.]
A strong alcoholic liquor, distilled
from rye and barley, and flavored with juniper berries; -- also called Hollands and Holland gin, because originally, and still very extensively, manufactured in
Holland. Common gin is usually flavored with turpentine.
Gin (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gan (?), Gon (&?;), or Gun (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Ginning.]
[OE. ginnen, AS. ginnan (in comp.), prob.
orig., to open, cut open, cf. OHG. inginnan to begin, open, cut open, and
prob. akin to AS. gīnan to yawn, and E.
yawn. &?; See Yawn, v. i., and cf. Begin.] To begin; -- often followed by an infinitive without to; as, gan tell. See Gan. [Obs. or Archaic] "He gan to
pray." Chaucer.
Gin , conj. [See Gin, prep.]
If. [Scotch]
Jamieson.
Gin (?), prep. [AS.
geán. See Again.]
Against;
near by; towards; as, gin night. [Scot.] A. Ross (1778).
Hear it pronounced