gin
1
[ jin ]
/ dʒɪn /
noun
an alcoholic liquor obtained by distilling grain mash with juniper berries.
an alcoholic liquor similar to this, made by redistilling spirits with flavoring agents, especially juniper berries, orange peel, angelica root, etc.
Origin of gin
1
First recorded in 1705–15; shortened from
geneva
Words nearby gin
gimme cap,
gimmick,
gimmickry,
gimp,
gimpy,
gin,
gin and tonic,
gin block,
gin mill,
gin palace,
gin rickey
Definition for gin (2 of 6)
gin
2
[ jin ]
/ dʒɪn /
noun
a trap or snare for game.
any of various machines employing simple tackle or windlass mechanisms for hoisting.
a stationary prime mover having a drive shaft rotated by horizontal beams pulled by horses walking in a circle.
verb (used with object), ginned, gin·ning.
to clear (cotton) of seeds with a gin.
to snare (game).
Origin of gin
2OTHER WORDS FROM gin
gin·ner, nounDefinition for gin (3 of 6)
gin
3
[ gin ]
/ gɪn /
verb (used with or without object), gan, gun, gin·ning. Archaic.
to begin.
Origin of gin
3
1150–1200; Middle English
ginnen, Old English
ginnan, aphetic variant of
onginnan, beginnen to
begin
Definition for gin (4 of 6)
gin
4
[ jin ]
/ dʒɪn /
noun
Also called gin rummy.
a variety of rummy for two players, in which a player with 10 or fewer points in unmatched cards can end the game by laying down the hand.
the winning of such a game by laying down a full set of matched cards, earning the winner a bonus of 20 or 25 points.
verb (used without object), ginned, gin·ning.
to win a game in gin by laying down a hand in which all 10 cards are included in sets.
Origin of gin
4
First recorded in 1955–60; perhaps special use of
gin1
Definition for gin (5 of 6)
gin
5
[ gin ]
/ gɪn /
conjunction Chiefly Scot. and Southern Appalachian.
if; whether.
Definition for gin (6 of 6)
gin
6
or jin
[ jin ]
/ dʒɪn /
noun Australian Informal.
a female Aborigine.
an Aboriginal wife.
Origin of gin
6
First recorded in 1820–30,
gin is from the Dharuk word
di-yin
Example sentences from the Web for gin
British Dictionary definitions for gin (1 of 5)
gin
1
/ (dʒɪn) /
noun
an alcoholic drink obtained by distillation and rectification of the grain of malted barley, rye, or maize, flavoured with juniper berries
any of various grain spirits flavoured with other fruit or aromatic essences
sloe gin
an alcoholic drink made from any rectified spirit
Word Origin for gin
C18: shortened from Dutch
genever juniper, via Old French from Latin
jūniperus
juniper
British Dictionary definitions for gin (2 of 5)
gin
2
/ (dʒɪn) /
noun
a primitive engine in which a vertical shaft is turned by horses driving a horizontal beam or yoke in a circle
Also called: cotton gin
a machine of this type used for separating seeds from raw cotton
a trap for catching small mammals, consisting of a noose of thin strong wire
a hand-operated hoist that consists of a drum winder turned by a crank
verb gins, ginning or ginned (tr)
to free (cotton) of seeds with a gin
to trap or snare (game) with a gin
Derived forms of gin
ginner, nounWord Origin for gin
C13
gyn, shortened from
engine
British Dictionary definitions for gin (3 of 5)
British Dictionary definitions for gin (4 of 5)
gin
4
/ (ɡɪn) /
conjunction
Scot
if
Word Origin for gin
perhaps related to
gif, an earlier form of
if
British Dictionary definitions for gin (5 of 5)
gin
5
/ (dʒɪn) /
noun
Australian offensive, slang
an Aboriginal woman
Word Origin for gin
C19: from a native Australian language