gawming

English

Etymology 1

Adjective

gawming

1. (chiefly UK, dialectal, Rutland, Leicestershire, but also US) Alternative form of gorming
   • 1893, Mrs. O. W. Scott, The Gilead Guards: A Story of War-times in a New England Town:

     A sniff of strong ammonia could not have revived Martha's drooping spirits more effectually. “Miss him!” she repeated, “don't worry about my missin' that gawming creature. I shall be able to keep things decently clean after he's out o' the way.”

   • 1916, Daniel Leavens Cady, Adam Et Ux, in Maize and Milkweed: Fifty-two Stalks:

     Yet Nancy's gawming son

     Set free more sad and hopeless men

     Than any king has done;

References

References

• Lowsley, A glossary of Berkshire words and phrases, section on Rutland words (1888): GAWMING, adj. lanky and ragged. "You won't like the looks of them flowers in that border, they looks so gauming"
• Francis Grose, A provincial glossary: with a collection of local proverbs (1811): Gawming, aukward, lubberly.
• Arthur Benoni Evans, Sebastian Evans, Leicestershire Words, Phrases, and Proverbs, volume 17 (1881), page 158: Gawm, v. a., i. q. Gaum, q. v.
  Gawming, adj., i. q. Gawky, q. v.

Etymology 2

Verb

gawming

1. present participle and gerund of gawm