gang

gang
{{11}}gang (n.) O.E. gang "a going, journey, way, passage," and O.N. gangr "a group of men, a set," both from P.Gmc. *gangaz (Cf. O.S., O.Fris., Dan., Du., O.H.G., Ger. gang, O.N. gangr, Goth. gagg "act of going"), from PIE root *ghengh- "to step" (Cf. Skt. jangha "shank," Avestan zanga- "ankle," Lith. zengiu "I stride"). Thus not considered to be related to GO (Cf. go).
The sense evolution is probably via meaning "a set of articles that usually are taken together in going" (mid-14c.), especially a set of tools used on the same job. By 1620s this had been extended in nautical speech to mean "a company of workmen," and by 1630s the word was being used, with disapproving overtones, for "any band of persons traveling together." GANGWAY (Cf. Gangway) preserves the original sense of the word, as does GANGPLANK (Cf. gangplank).
{{12}}gang (v.) 1856, from GANG (Cf. gang) (n.). Related: Ganged; ganging. To gang up (on) is first attested 1919.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • gang — gang …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gang — [ gɑ̃g ] n. m. • 1837 « bande, clan », sens vivant au Québec sous la forme gagne n. f.; repris XXe; mot angl. « équipe » ♦ Bande organisée, association de malfaiteurs (⇒ gangster). Lutte contre les gangs. ⇒ antigang. Chef de gang. ⊗ HOM. Gangue.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Gang Jo — (? 1010) was a Goryeo general who served under Emperor Mokjong of Goryeo and Emperor Hyeonjong of Goryeo. General Gang Jo was a general in charge of the Northern border army. Rise to power When scholar official Kim Chi Yang burned the royal… …   Wikipedia

  • gang — GANG, ganguri, s.n. Loc de trecere aflat sub o construcţie, sub boltitura unei case. ♦ Coridor, galerie, culoar. – Din germ. Gang. Trimis de gall, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  GANG s. v. coridor. Trimis de siveco, 13.09.2007. Sursa: Sinonime … …   Dicționar Român

  • Gang [1] — Gang (hierzu Tafel »Gangbildungen«), in der Geologie und der Bergbaukunde Bezeichnung der mit einer von der Umgebung (Nebengestein) abweichenden Mineral oder Gesteinsmasse erfüllten Spalten oder Klüfte, die das Nebengestein in einer von der… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Gang [2] — Gang, eine natürliche, mit Mineralstoffen ausgefüllte Gesteinsspalte, also der Gestalt nach plattenförmig und von zwei einander annähernd parallelen Flächen begrenzt. Die den Gang gegen das Nebengestein abgrenzenden Flächen heißen die Salbänder.… …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • gang — Adv (nur noch in gang und gäbe üblich) std. phras. Phraseologismus(11. Jh.), mhd. genge, ahd. gangi Stammwort. Aus g. * gang ja Adj. gangbar, imstande zu gehen , auch in anord. gengr Gang , ae. genge, afr. gendze, ganse, ginse; Adjektiv der… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • gang — gang1 [gaŋ] n. [ME, a band or company, orig., a going, journey < OE < base of gangan: see GANG2] 1. a group of people associated together in some way; specif., a) a group of workers directed by a foreman b) an organized group of criminals… …   English World dictionary

  • Gang — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Gang est un terme qui renvoie à : Gang, album de Johnny Halliday gang, mot anglais désignant une bande criminelle Voir aussi Gangster Ce document… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • gang up on — To make a concerted attack on • • • Main Entry: ↑gang * * * ˌgang ˈup on [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they gang up on he/she/it gangs up on …   Useful english dictionary

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