GANG, v.i. To go; to walk. [Local, or used only in ludicrous language.] GANG, n. [G., a metallic vein, a streak in a mine.] 1. Properly, a going; hence, a number of going in company; hence, a company, or a number of persons associated for a particular purpose; as a gang of thieves. 2. In seamen's language, a select number of a ship's crew appointed on a particular service, under a suitable officer. 3. In mining, literally a course or vein, but appropriately the earthy, stony, saline or combustible substance which contains the ore of metals, or is only mingled with it, without being chemically combined. This is called the gang or matrix of the ore. It differs from a mineralizer, in not being combined with the metal. [ This word, in the latter sense, is most unwarrantably and erroneously written gangue.]
n 1: an association of criminals; "police tried to break up the gang"; "a pack of thieves" [syn: gang, pack, ring, mob] 2: an informal body of friends; "he still hangs out with the same crowd" [syn: crowd, crew, gang, bunch] 3: an organized group of workmen [syn: gang, crew, work party] 4: tool consisting of a combination of implements arranged to work together v 1: act as an organized group [syn: gang, gang up]
I. intransitive verbEtymology: Middle English, from Old English gangan; akin to Lithuanian ˛engti to stride Date: before 12th century ScottishgoII. nounEtymology: Middle English, walking, journey, from Old English; akin to Old English ganganDate: 15th century 1.a.(1) a set of articles ;outfit<a gang of oars> (2) a combination of similar implements or devices arranged for convenience to act together <a gang of saws> b.group: as (1) a group of persons working together (2) a group of persons working to unlawful or antisocial ends; especially a band of antisocial adolescents 2. a group of persons having informal and usually close social relations <watching TV with the gang> III. verbDate: 1856 transitive verb1.a. to assemble or operate simultaneously as a group b. to arrange in or produce as a gang 2. to attack in a gang intransitive verb to move or act as a gang
1. n. & v. --n. 1 a a band of persons acting or going about together, esp. for criminal purposes. b colloq. such a band pursuing a purpose causing disapproval. 2 a set of workers, slaves, or prisoners. 3 a set of tools arranged to work simultaneously. --v.tr. arrange (tools etc.) to work in coordination. Phrases and idioms: gang-bang sl. an occasion on which several men successively have sexual intercourse with one woman. gang up colloq. 1 (often foll. by with) act in concert. 2 (foll. by on) combine against. Etymology: orig. = going, journey, f. ON gangr, ganga GOING, corresp. to OE gang 2. v.intr. Sc. go. Phrases and idioms: gang agley (of a plan etc.) go wrong. Etymology: OE gangan: cf. GANG(1)
Gang Gang, v. i. [AS. gangan, akin to OS. & OHG. gangan, Icel. ganga, Goth. gaggan; cf. Lith. ?engti to walk, Skr. ja?gha leg. [root]48. Cf. Go.] To go; to walk. Note: Obsolete in English literature, but still used in the North of England, and also in Scotland.
Gang Gang, n. [Icel. gangr a going, gang, akin to AS., D., G., & Dan. gang a going, Goth. gaggs street, way. See Gang, v. i.] 1. A going; a course. [Obs.] 2. A number going in company; hence, a company, or a number of persons associated for a particular purpose; a group of laborers under one foreman; a squad; as, a gang of sailors; a chain gang; a gang of thieves. 3. A combination of similar implements arranged so as, by acting together, to save time or labor; a set; as, a gang of saws, or of plows. 4. (Naut.) A set; all required for an outfit; as, a new gang of stays. 5. [Cf. Gangue.] (Mining) The mineral substance which incloses a vein; a matrix; a gangue. Gang board, or Gang plank. (Naut.) (a) A board or plank, with cleats for steps, forming a bridge by which to enter or leave a vessel. (b) A plank within or without the bulwarks of a vessel's waist, for the sentinel to walk on. Gang cask, a small cask in which to bring water aboard ships or in which it is kept on deck. Gang cultivator, Gang plow, a cultivator or plow in which several shares are attached to one frame, so as to make two or more furrows at the same time. Gang days, Rogation days; the time of perambulating parishes. See Gang week (below). Gang drill, a drilling machine having a number of drills driven from a common shaft. Gang master, a master or employer of a gang of workmen. Gang plank. See Gang board (above). Gang plow. See Gang cultivator (above). Gang press, a press for operating upon a pile or row of objects separated by intervening plates. Gang saw, a saw fitted to be one of a combination or gang of saws hung together in a frame or sash, and set at fixed distances apart. Gang tide. See Gang week (below). Gang tooth, a projecting tooth. [Obs.] --Halliwell. Gang week, Rogation week, when formerly processions were made to survey the bounds of parishes. --Halliwell. Live gang, or Round gang, the Western and the Eastern names, respectively, for a gang of saws for cutting the round log into boards at one operation. --Knight. Slabbing gang, an arrangement of saws which cuts slabs from two sides of a log, leaving the middle part as a thick beam.
(gangs, ganging, ganged)Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. A gang is a group of people, especially young people, who go around together and often deliberately cause trouble. During the fight with a rival gang he lashed out with his flick knife...Gang members were behind a lot of the violence...He was attacked by a gang of youths.N-COUNT: oft N of n 2. A gang is a group of criminals who work together to commit crimes. Police were hunting for a gang who had allegedly stolen fifty-five cars....an underworld gang....a gang of masked robbers.N-COUNT 3. Thegang is a group of friends who frequently meet. (INFORMAL) Come on over, we've got lots of the old gang here.N-SING: usu the N 4. A gang is a group of workers who do physical work together. ...a gang of labourers.N-COUNT: oft N of n