The Meta-Encyclopedia

Single-source entries: G (9)

Each of these 11 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.

Gamaliel

the name of two mentioned in Bible history, of whom the persons first, Gamaliel , the son of Pedahzur (Num. i: 10; ii: 20; vii: 54, 59; x: 23), was prince or head of the tribe of Manasseh. The other and Gamaliel is mentioned twice in the Acts better known of the Apostles, as a learned doctor of the law, of the sect of the Pharisees. From Acts xii : 3 we learn that he was the preceptor of St. Paul.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Gambetta

LÉON be-tä'), a French statesman; born in MICHEL (gon- Cahors , France, April 3, 1838. He was of Genoese the Church; and finally decided in favor extraction; was educated for of the law, and repairing to Paris became a member of the metropolitan bar in 1859. In November, 1868, he gained the leadership of the republican party by his defense of Delescluze, a noted republican. In 1869, having been elected by both Paris and Marseilles, he chose to represent the S. city; and in the Chamber of Deputies showed himself an irreconcilable opponent of the empire and its measures, especially of the policy which led to the war with Prussia. On the downfall of the empire, after the surrender of Sedan in 1870, a government for national defense was formed, in which Gambetta was nominated Minister of the Interior. The Germans having encircled Paris, he left that city in a balloon, and set up his headquarters at Tours, from which he for a short time organized a fierce but vain resistance against the invaders. After the close of the war he held office in several shortlived ministries, and in November, 1881, accepted the premiership. The sweeping changes proposed by him and his colleagues led to his resignation. The accidental discharge of a pistol caused his death near Sèvres, France, Dec. 31, 1882.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Gambetta, Leon N.

Leon N. (1838-1882), a French statesman. He was born in Cahors. His parentage was Jewish. He was a lawyer by profession. In 1870, when Louis Napoleon surrendered at the battle of Sedan, Gambetta represented Marseilles in the French Assembly. He was made minister of war in the provisional government that was set up. When the German troops encircled Paris he escaped in a balloon and established his headquarters at Tours. He was for a time the practical dictator of the French government. He did his best to withstand the Germans, but French affairs had been mismanaged too long. Gambetta was obliged to give up. During his remaining years he was several times a member of the French ministry. He died at Sevres from the accidental discharge of a pistol.

Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia

Gambia

a river of west Africa, rising in a mountainous district in Futa Jallon and flowing N. W. and W. to the Atlantic; length about 1,400 miles. It is navi navigable for 600 miles during seven months of the year for vessels of 150 tons, but from June to November the river becomes a torrent. The British Colony and Protectorate of GAMBIA Occupies the banks of the river as far up as Georgetown; area, 69 square miles. It embraces St. Mary's Island, containing Bathurst, the chief town of the settlement. Besides the weaving of cotton into native cloths, there are manufactures of vegetable oils and bricks, and some boat-building. The staple product is the groundnut, which is exported to the S. of Europe for the extraction of oil. Other products are hides, rice, cotton, beeswax, kola nuts, and india-rubber. Formerly a dependency of Sierra Leone, the settlement was created an independent colony in 1843, and became a portion of the West African Settlements in 1876; in 1888 it was made a separate government. Pop. about 8,- 000. The protectorate has an area of 4,500 square miles; pop. about 200,000.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Gambier

GAMBIR (gam'ber), or PALE CATECHU, an important article of commerce, used to a small extent medicinally as an astringent but very largely in tanning and dyeing. It is an earthy-looking, light-brown substance, often in small cubes or in compact masses. It possesses no odor, but has a bitter, astringent taste, subsequently becoming sweetish. It is prepared from the young leaves of the Uncaria Gambir, a native of the countries bordering the Straits of Malacca. As the plant, which grows to 8 or 10 feet, constantly produces young leaves, the manufacture is carried on throughout the year.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Gambier Islands

a group of small coral islands in the South Pacific, about lat. 23° 8' S. and lon. 134° 55′ W.; belonging to France. The vegetation is luxuriant and there are numerous birds but no indigenous quadrupeds. A French mission station was formed on the largest island, Mangareva, in 1834.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Gambit

in chess, the sacrifice of a pawn in the beginning of the game in order to obtain a favorable position for attack.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Gambling

playing at games of hazard or chance for money. Strictly speaking, gambling may be understood as gaming in its worst sense, and as implying professional play for a money stake by men who are unscrupulous adepts at so-called games of chance.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Gambrinus

a mythical king of Flanders, to whom is ascribed the invention of beer. His figure is familiar in German beer-cellars, often seated astride a cask, a foaming tankard in his hand.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Gandamak

a village of Afghanistan, between Cabul and Peshawar, where, during the retreat from Kabul in 1842, the last remnant of the British force was massacred, only one man making his escape. Here also a treaty was signed with Yakub Khan in 1879. See AFGHANISTAN.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Ganglion

in human anatomy, (1) a small mass of vascular neurine, neurine, situated in the course of a nerve, and distinct both from the brain and from the spinal cord. The sympathetic system of nerves consists of a series of ganglia, extending on each side of the vertebral column, from the head to the coccyx, connecting with all the other nerves of the body. Each ganglion is a distinct center, giving off branches in four directions, superior, inferior, external, and internal. They are divided into cranial ganglia, cervical, thoracic, etc., (2) a lymphatic gland. In comparative anatomy, a center of the nervous system, containing nerve cells, and receiving and giving out impressions. In surgery, a globular indolent tumor, situated on the course of a tendon. It is produced by the elevation of a sheath of the tendon and the infusion into it of a viscid fluid. In botany, the mycelium of certain fungals.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia