gin 1
/jin/ , n.
1. an alcoholic liquor obtained by distilling grain mash with juniper berries.
2. an alcoholic liquor similar to this, made by redistilling spirits with flavoring agents, esp. juniper berries, orange peel, angelica root, etc.
[ 1705-15; shortened from GENEVA ]
gin 2
— ginner , n.
/jin/ , n. , v. , ginned, ginning .
n.
1. See cotton gin .
2. a trap or snare for game.
3. any of various machines employing simple tackle or windlass mechanisms for hoisting.
4. a stationary prime mover having a drive shaft rotated by horizontal beams pulled by horses walking in a circle.
v.t.
5. to clear (cotton) of seeds with a gin.
6. to snare (game).
[ 1150-1200; ME gyn, aph. var. of OF engin ENGINE ]
gin 3
/gin/ , v.i., v.t., gan, gun, ginning . Archaic.
to begin.
[ 1150-1200; ME ginnen, OE ginnan, aph. var. of onginnan, beginnen to BEGIN ]
gin 4
/jin/ , n. , v. , ginned, ginning . Cards.
n.
1. 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.
2. 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.
v.i.
3. to win a game in gin by laying down a hand in which all 10 cards are included in sets.
[ 1955-60; perh. special use of GIN 1 ]
gin 5
/gin/ , conj. Chiefly Scot. and Southern Appalachian.
if; whether.
[ 1665-75; variously explained as sense development of gien given (see GIE, -EN 3 ); as contr. of gif IF + AN 2 (cf. IFFEN); or as aph. form of AGAIN ]
gin 6
/jin/ , n. Australian Informal.
1. a female Aborigine.
2. an Aboriginal wife.
Also, jin .
[ 1820-30; di-yin ]