gar meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

gar

noun

UK /ɡɑː/ · US /ɡɑɹ/

Etymology Clipping of garfish, from Middle English gare + fish.

Canada, US, Especially Any of several North American fish of the family Lepisosteidae that have long, narrow jaws.

Gars are long, slender, predatory fishes of quiet waters east of the Rockies.1967, George K. Reid, edited by Herbert S. Zim and George S. Fichter, Pond Life, New York: Golden Press, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 128:

Ireland, UK, Especially A garfish, Belone belone.

Derived terms: alligator gar, broadhead gar, Cuban gar, Florida gar, freshwater gar (Xenentodon cancila, garfish, garpike, gator gar, king gar, longnose gar, Malawi gar, needle-nose gar, ocean gar, shortnose gar, silver gar, slender gar, spotted gar, tropical gar

gar

verb

Etymology From Middle English garren, gerren, from Old Norse gera, gerva (Swedish göra, Danish gøre), from Proto-Germanic *garwijaną. Compare yare; but also Old Cornish gorra (“put, place, set”).

UK, Dialectal To make, compel (someone to do something); to cause (something to be done).

I shall firste begyn at Sandwyche, and there I shall go in my shearte, barefoote, and at every ten myles ende I shall founde and gar make an house of religious, of what order that ye woll assygne me [...].1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XX:
Farewell to pleasant Dilston Hall, / My father's ancient seat, / A stranger now must call thee his, / Which gars my heart to greet. [...].1807, Robert Surtees, Derwentwater's Farewell, Verse 1:

1 more example

Time gars me tremble. Ah, how sore the baulk! / While Time in pride of strength cloth ever stalk [...].1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Night 15:

Related terms: atgar, by gar