The Ancient Styles and Designations of Persons. 347 
shown by the trifling sums given in the Ogbourne subscription 
lists before cited: as ‘“ Widow Potter” 6d., in 1680, and “ Widow 
Goddard” 3d., in 1685, “ Wid. Hal” 64d., &e. 
GAMMER. 
Dr. Johnson’s Dictionary, Tit. ““Gammer,” says, “ of uncertain 
etymology, perhaps from grandmere, and therefore commonly used 
to old women ;” but Todd, in his edition of the Dictionary, adds, 
“ From good-mother [Ray]. From god-mother, perhaps from the 
Saxon ‘Gemather,’ like the contraction of Gaffer from Godfather, 
or from the Gothic ‘Gumma,’ a woman; and he explains the word 
Gammer to mean “the compellation of a woman, corresponding to 
Gaffer, as ‘Gammer Gurton’s Needle,’ the name of an old play.” 
I have already mentioned that the style ‘‘Gammer”’ was used at 
Liddiard Tregoz and Liddiard Millicent between 65 and 70 years 
ago. 
GRAMMER. 
At Burbage, Wilts, there was a very old cottager who died about 
20 years ago, who was always called “ Grammer Barnet.” 
GopMER. 
At Burbage, about 25 years ago, a woman died at a very advanced 
age. She offered some mushrooms to a lady as a present, and on 
the lady asking her name, she exclaimed in astonishment, “ Lord 
a massy upon me, why don’t you know old Godmer Davis.” 
GoNnMER. 
At Berkeley, in Gloucestershire, about 45 years ago, a very old 
woman, whose husband was the owner of asloop which carried coals 
on the Severn, was always called “ Gonmer Cook.” 
It would seem that ‘Granmer” was a contraction of grandmother, 
and “Godmer” and “Gonmer” contractions of godmother, the 
latter, perhaps, being more uncertain as to whether it might not 
have had its origin from grandmother. 
Gossip. 
Todd, in his edition of Johnson’s Dictionary, gives one meaning 
of the word “ Gossip,” to be one who answers for a child in baptism, 
2Y2 
