Gang

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

4. (Naut.) A set; all required for an outfit; as, a new gang of stays. [1913 Webster]

5. [Cf. {Gangue}.] (Mining) The mineral substance which incloses a vein; a matrix; a gangue. [1913 Webster]

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]