gag

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

gag, v. t. [Prob. fr. W. cegio to choke or strangle, fr. ceg mouth, opening, entrance.].

•  To stop the mouth of, by thrusting sometimes in, so as to hinder speaking; hence, to silence by authority or by violence; not to allow freedom of speech to.  Marvell.  [1913 Webster]

  "The time was not yet come when eloquence was to be gagged, and reason to be hood winked."  [1913 Webster]
•  To pry or hold open by means of a gag.  [1913 Webster]

  "Mouths gagged to such a wideness."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause to heave with nausea.  [1913 Webster]

gag, v. i. 

•  To heave with nausea; to retch.  [1913 Webster]
•  To introduce gags or interpolations. See Gag, n., 3.  Cornill Mag.  [1913 Webster]

gag, n. 

•  Something thrust into the mouth or throat to hinder speaking.  [1913 Webster]
•  A mouthful that makes one retch; a choking bit; as, a gag of mutton fat.  Lamb.  [1913 Webster]
•  A speech or phrase interpolated offhand by an actor on the stage in his part as written, usually consisting of some seasonable or local allusion.  [1913 Webster]

Gag rein (Harness), a rein for drawing the bit upward in the horse's mouth. -- Gag runner (Harness), a loop on the throat latch guiding the gag rein.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

gag, n. & v.
--n.
1 a piece of cloth etc. thrust into or held over the mouth to prevent speaking or crying out, or to hold it open in surgery.
2 a joke or comic scene in a play, film, etc., or as part of a comedian's act.
3 an actor's interpolation in a dramatic dialogue.
4 a thing or circumstance restricting free speech.
5 a a joke or hoax. b a humorous action or situation.
6 an imposture or deception.
7 Parl. a closure or guillotine.
--v. (gagged, gagging)
1 tr. apply a gag to.
2 tr. silence; deprive of free speech.
3 tr. apply a gag-bit to (a horse).
4 a intr. choke or retch. b tr. cause to do this.
5 intr. Theatr. make gags.

Idiom

gag-bit a specially powerful bit for horse-breaking. gag man a deviser or performer of theatrical gags.

Etymology

ME, orig. as verb: orig. uncert.

THESAURUS

gag

Oregon boat, acoustic tile, acting, antiknock, asphyxiate, baffler, balk, barf, be nauseated, be seasick, be sick, belly laugh, bilbo, blue story, boggle, bond, bonds, bottle up, bridle, bring up, buffoonery, business, camisole, censor, chains, characterization, check, choke, choke off, choke on, chuck up, clamp down on, collar, cork, cork up, crack, crack down on, crush, cuffs, curb, cushion, damp, damp down, dampener, damper, deflate, dirty joke, dirty story, disarm, discourage, disgorge, double entendre, drollery, drown, dumbfound, egest, enchain, ethnic joke, extinguish, fast one, feed the fish, feel disgust, fetter, fun, funny story, gibe, good one, good story, gyves, halter, ham, hammy acting, hamper, hamstring, handcuff, handcuffs, heave, heave the gorge, hoax, hobble, hobbles, hog-tie, hoke, hokum, hold down, hopples, howler, hush, hush-hush, hushcloth, impersonation, inhibit, irons, jape, jest, jestbook, jib, joke, jump on, keck, keep down, keep under, kill, knock out, laugh, leading strings, leash, manacle, mimesis, mimicking, mimicry, miming, muffle, muffler, mummery, mute, muzzle, overacting, panic, pantomiming, paralyze, patter, performance, performing, personation, pillory, play, playacting, playing, point, portrayal, pour water on, practical joke, prank, projection, prostrate, puke, pun, put down, put to silence, quash, quell, quench, quiet, quieten, quietener, quip, regurgitate, reins, reject, representation, repress, restrain, restraint, restraints, retch, rib tickler, riot, ruse, sally, scream, scruple, shackle, shush, shut down on, shy, sick joke, sick up, sicken at, sidesplitter, sight gag, silence, silence cloth, silencer, sit down on, sit on, slapstick, smash, smother, soft pedal, soft-pedal, sordine, sordino, sound-absorbing material, soundproofing, soundproofing insulation, sourdine, spew, sport, squash, squelch, stage business, stage directions, stage presence, stanch, stick, stickle, stifle, still, stocks, stop up, story, straightjacket, strain, strait-waistcoat, straitjacket, strangle, stranglehold, strike dumb, stultify, stumble, stunt, subdue, suffocate, suppress, taking a role, tether, throttle, throw up, trammel, trammels, trick, truss up, upchuck, visual joke, vomit, wheeze, wile, wisecrack, witticism, wow, yak, yarn, yoke

ROGET THESAURUS

gag

Aphony

VB keep silence, speak low, speak softly, whisper, silence, render mute, render silent, muzzle, muffle, suppress, smother, gag, strike dumb, dumfounder, drown the voice, put to silence, stop one's mouth, cut one short, stick in the throat.

The Drama

N the drama, the stage, the theater, the play, film the film, movies, motion pictures, cinema, cinematography, theatricals, dramaturgy, histrionic art, buskin, sock, cothurnus, Melpomene and Thalia, Thespis, play, drama, stage play, piece, five-act play, tragedy, comedy, opera, vaudeville, comedietta, lever de rideau, interlude, afterpiece, exode, farce, divertissement, extravaganza, burletta, harlequinade, pantomime, burlesque, opera bouffe, ballet, spectacle, masque, drame comedie drame, melodrama, melodrame, comidie larmoyante, sensation drama, tragicomedy, farcical-comedy, monodrame monologue, duologue trilogy, charade, proverbs, mystery, miracle play, musical, musical comedy, western, horse opera, flick, spy film, love story, adventure film, documentary, nature film, pornographic film, smoker, skin flick, X-rated film, act, scene, tableau, induction, introduction, prologue, epilogue, libretto, performance, representation, mise en scene, stagery, jeu de theatre, acting, gesture, impersonation, stage business, gag, buffoonery, light comedy, genteel comedy, low comedy, theater, playhouse, opera house, house, music hall, amphitheater, circus, hippodrome, theater in the round, puppet show, fantoccini, marionettes, Punch and Judy, auditory, auditorium, front of the house, stalls, boxes, pit, gallery, parquet, greenroom, coulisses, flat, drop, drop scene, wing, screen, side scene, transformation scene, curtain, act drop, proscenium, stage, scene, scenery, the boards, trap, mezzanine floor, flies, floats, footlights, offstage, orchestra, theatrical costume, theatrical properties, movie studio, back lot, on location, part, role, character, dramatis personae, repertoire, actor, thespian, player, method actor, stage player, strolling player, stager, performer, mime, mimer, artists, comedian, tragedian, tragedienne, Roscius, star, movie star, star of stage and screen, superstar, idol, sex symbol, supporting actor, supporting cast, ham, hamfatter, masker, pantomimist, clown harlequin, buffo, buffoon, farceur, grimacer, pantaloon, columbine, punchinello, pulcinello, pulcinella, extra, bit- player, walk-on role, cameo appearance, mute, figurante, general utility, super, supernumerary, company, first tragedian, prima donna, protagonist, jeune premier, debutant, debutante, light comedian, genteel comedian, low comedian, walking gentleman, amoroso, heavy father, ingenue, jeune veuve, mummer, guiser, guisard, gysart, masque, mountebank, Jack Pudding, tumbler, posture master, acrobat, contortionist, ballet dancer, ballet girl, chorus singer, coryphee danseuse, property man, costumier, machinist, prompter, call boy, manager, director, stage manager, acting manager, producer, entrepreneur, impresario, backer, investor, angel, dramatic author, dramatic writer, play writer, playwright, dramatist, mimographer, dramatic, theatric, theatrical, scenic, histrionic, comic, tragic, buskined, farcical, tragicomic, melodramatic, operatic, stagy, on the stage, on the boards, on film, before the floats, before an audience, behind the scenes, fere totus mundus exercet histrionem, suit the action to the word, the word to the action, the play's the thing, to wake the soul by tender strokes of art.

VB act, play, perform, put on the stage, personate, mimic, enact, play a part, act a part, go through a part, perform a part, rehearse, spout, gag, rant, strut and fret one's hour upon a stage, tread the boards, tread the stage, come out, star it.

Restraint

VB restrain, check, put under restraint, lay under restraint, enthral, enthrall, inthral, inthrall, bethral, bethrall, restrict, debar, constrain, coerce, curb, control, hold back, hold from, hold in, hold in check, hold within bounds, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep within bounds, hold in leash, hold in leading strings, withhold, keep under, repress, suppress, smother, pull in, rein in, hold, hold fast, keep a tight hand on, prohibit, inhibit, cohibit, enchain, fasten, fetter, shackle, entrammel, bridle, muzzle, hopple, gag, pinion, manacle, handcuff, tie one's hands, hobble, bind hand and foot, swathe, swaddle, pin down, tether, picket, tie down, tie up, secure, forge fetters, disable, hamstring (incapacitate), confine, shut up, shut in, clap up, lock up, box up, mew up, bottle up, cork up, seal up, button up, hem in, bolt in, wall in, rail in, impound, pen, coop, inclose, cage, incage, encage, close the door upon, cloister, imprison, immure, incarcerate, entomb, clap under hatches, lay under hatches, put in irons, put in a strait-waistcoat, throw into prison, cast into prison, put into bilboes, arrest, take up, take charge of, take into custody, take prisoner, take captive, make prisoner, make captive, captivate, lead captive, lead into captivity, send to prison, commit to prison, commit, give in charge, give in custody, subjugate.

Prison

N prison, prison house, jail, gaol, cage, coop, den, cell, stronghold, fortress, keep, donjon, dungeon, Bastille, oubliette, bridewell, house of correction, hulks, tollbooth, panopticon, penitentiary, guardroom, lockup, hold, round house, watch house, station house, sponging house, station, house of detention, black hole, pen, fold, pound, inclosure, isolation (exclusion), penal settlement, penal colony, bilboes, stocks, limbo, quod, calaboose, chauki, choky, thana, workhouse, Newgate, Fleet, Marshalsea, King's Bench, Queen's Bench, bond, bandage, irons, pinion, gyve, fetter, shackle, trammel, manacle, handcuff, straight jacket, strait jacket, strait-jacket, strait-waistcoat, hopples, vice, vise, yoke, collar, halter, harness, muzzle, gag, bit, brake, curb, snaffle, bridle, rein, reins, bearing rein, martingale, leading string, tether, picket, band, guy, chain, cord, cavesson, hackamore, headstall, jaquima, lines, ribbons, bolt, deadbolt, bar, lock, police lock, combination lock, padlock, rail, wall, stone wall, paling, palisade, fence, picket fence, barbed wire fence, Cyclone fence, stockade fence, chain-link fence, barrier, barricade, drag.