Gang

Pronunciation

• enPR: găng, IPA: /ɡæŋ/
• (also) US enPR: gāng, IPA: /É¡eɪŋ/
• Rhymes: -æŋ

From Middle English gangen, from Old English gangan ("to go, walk, turn out"), from Proto-Germanic *ganganą ("to go, walk"), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰengʰ- ("to step, walk"). Cognate with Scots gang ("to go on foot, walk"), Swedish gånga ("to walk, go"), Faroese ganga ("to walk"), Icelandic ganga ("to walk, go"). Ultimately: related to etym. 2, see below.

Full definition of gang

Verb

1. (intransitive, chiefly UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To go; walk; proceed.

Derived terms

• gang alow
• gang gizzen
• gang gleyed
• gang one's gait
• gang-by
• ganger
• gangling
• gangrel

From Middle English gang, from Old English gang ("a journey, a way, a passage"), from Proto-Germanic *gangaz. Cognate with Dutch gang, Icelandic gangur, Norwegian gang ("hallway"), Old Norse gangr (passage, hallway).

Noun

1. (now chiefly dialectal) A going, journey; a course, path, track.
• 1840, Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Woodnotes I":In unploughed Maine he sought the lumberers’ gang
  Where from a hundred lakes young rivers sprang
• 1869, Papa André, Once a Week, page 418/1:That week was also called the Gang Week, from the Saxon ganger, to go; and the Rogation days were termed the Gang Days.
• 1895, Frederick Tupper Jr., Anglo-Saxon Dæg-Mæl, Modern Language Association of America, page 229:Neither Marshall nor Bouterwek makes clear the connection existing between the Gang-days and the Major and Minor Litanies.
2. A number going in company; a number of friends or persons associated for a particular purpose.the Gashouse GangThe gang from our office is going out for drinks Friday night.
3. A group of laborers under one foreman; a squad.a gang of sailors; a railroad gang.
4. (US) A criminal group with a common cultural background and identifying features, often associated with a particular section of a city.a youth gang; a neighborhood gang; motorcycle gang.
5. A group of criminals or alleged criminals who band together for mutual protection and profit, or a group of politicians united in furtherance of a political goal.the Winter Hill gang; the Gang of Four.Not all members of the Gang of Six are consistent in their opposition to filibuster.
6. (US) A chain gang.
7. A combination of similar tools or implements arranged so as, by acting together, to save time or labor; a set.a gang of saws; a gang of plows.
8. A set; all required for an outfit.a new gang of stays.
9. (electrics) A number of switches or other electrical devices wired into one unit and covered by one faceplate.an outlet gang box; a double gang switch.
10. (electrics) A group of wires attached as a bundle.a gang of wiresDo a drop for the telephone gang, then another drop for the internet gang, both through the ceiling of the wiring closet.
11. (mining) The mineral substance which encloses a vein; a matrix; a gangue.

Derived terms

Verb

1. (intransitive) To band together as a group or gang."Let's gang up on them."

See gan.

Verb

1. Eye dialect of gan