from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Gang \Gang\, n. [Icel. gangr a going, gang, akin to AS., D., G.,
& Dan. gang a going, Goth. gaggs street, way. See {Gang}, v.
i.]
1. A going; a course. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
2. A number going in company; hence, a company, or a number
of persons associated for a particular purpose; a group of
laborers under one foreman; a squad; as, a gang of
sailors; a chain gang; a gang of thieves.
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3. A combination of similar implements arranged so as, by
acting together, to save time or labor; a set; as, a gang
of saws, or of plows.
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4. (Naut.) A set; all required for an outfit; as, a new gang
of stays.
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5. [Cf. {Gangue}.] (Mining) The mineral substance which
incloses a vein; a matrix; a gangue.
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6. A group of teenagers or young adults forming a more or
less formalized group associating for social purposes, in
some cases requiring initiation rites to join; as, a teen
gang; a youth gang; a street gang.
Note: Youth gangs often associate with particular areas in a
city, and may turn violent when they feel their
territory is encroached upon. In Los Angeles the
{Crips} and the {Bloods} are large gangs antagonistic
to each other.
[PJC]
7. A group of persons organized for criminal purposes; a
criminal organization; as, the Parker gang.
[PJC]
{Gang board}, or {Gang plank}. (Naut.)
(a) A board or plank, with cleats for steps, forming a
bridge by which to enter or leave a vessel.
(b) A plank within or without the bulwarks of a vessel's
waist, for the sentinel to walk on.
{Gang cask}, a small cask in which to bring water aboard
ships or in which it is kept on deck.
{Gang cultivator}, {Gang plow}, a cultivator or plow in which
several shares are attached to one frame, so as to make
two or more furrows at the same time.
{Gang days}, Rogation days; the time of perambulating
parishes. See {Gang week} (below).
{Gang drill}, a drilling machine having a number of drills
driven from a common shaft.
{Gang master}, a master or employer of a gang of workmen.
{Gang plank}. See {Gang board} (above).
{Gang plow}. See {Gang cultivator} (above).
{Gang press}, a press for operating upon a pile or row of
objects separated by intervening plates.
{Gang saw}, a saw fitted to be one of a combination or gang
of saws hung together in a frame or sash, and set at fixed
distances apart.
{Gang tide}. See {Gang week} (below).
{Gang tooth}, a projecting tooth. [Obs.] --Halliwell.
{Gang week}, Rogation week, when formerly processions were
made to survey the bounds of parishes. --Halliwell.
{Live gang}, or {Round gang}, the Western and the Eastern
names, respectively, for a gang of saws for cutting the
round log into boards at one operation. --Knight.
{Slabbing gang}, an arrangement of saws which cuts slabs from
two sides of a log, leaving the middle part as a thick
beam.
[1913 Webster] gangboard