3. (common).—A marvellous tale; a munchausen (q.v.); a flim-flam. Also gigantic, and giant goosberry. Hence Gooseberry season = the dull time of journalism, when the appearance of monstrous vegetables, sea serpents, showers of frogs, and other portents is chronicled in default of news. Cf., silly season (q.v.).
1870. Figaro, 22 June. If we have no big gooseberries this season, we have at least a big salmon.
1871. Graphic, 22 Apr. Mr. Tupper excited a great deal of incredulity a few years ago by announcing in the prodigious goosberry season that he had discovered an ancient Roman coin embedded in the heart of an oak tree.
1885. Ill. London News, 18 July, p. 50, c. 2. Amongst journalists there is popularly known what they call 'the giant gooseberry season,' the meaning of which is, that when Parliament has risen and the Law Courts are shut and subjects on which to write become scarce, adventurous spirits are apt to discourse in their newspapers of fruit of abnormal size, and other natural prodigies, which, according to current banter, exist only in their own imagination.
4. in. pl. (venery).—The testicles. For synonyms, see Cods.
To play (or do) gooseberry, verb. phr. (common).—To play propriety; also to sit third in a hansom.
1877. Hawley Smart, Play or Pay. ch. vi. To take care of a pretty girl, . . . with a sister to do gooseberry.
1880. G. R. Sims, Jeph, p. 8. Mamma always played gooseberry on these occasions.
1883. Globe, 6 July, p. 1, c. 5. They will be compelled in self-defence to have a shorthand writer present to play gooseberry, and to be able to furnish proof that their discourse was innocent.
1892. J. McCarthy and Mrs. Campbell-Praed, Ladies' Gallery, p. 51. Well, I am not a good hand at playing gooseberry, and I don't like spoiling sport.
To play old gooseberry, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To play the deuce; to upset or spoil; to throw everything into confusion; but see quot. 1811. Old Gooseberry = The devil (see Skipper). [See Notes and Queries, 2 S x., 307, 376; xii., 336.]
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Gooseberry. He played up old gooseberry among them; said of a person who, by force or threats, suddenly puts an end to a riot or disturbance.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 22. Will play up old gooseberry soon with them all.
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf. To play up gooseberry; children romping about the house or the parent rating them over.
1837. Ingoldsby Legends. 'Bloudie Jacke of Shrewsberrie.' There's a pretty to-do! All the people of Shrewsbury playing old gooseberry With your choice bits of taste and virtù.
1865. H. Kingsley, Hillyars and the Burtons, ch. lxii. Lay on like old gooseberry.
1892. Globe, 12 July, p. 2, c. 2. We all know his capacity for playing old goosberry with things in general.
Gooseberry-eyed, adj. (old).—Grey-eyed.
(Lex. Bal., 1811).
Gooseberry-grinder, subs. (old).—The
breech. For synonyms, see
Monocular eyeglass.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. Gooseberry-grinder, s.v. Ask Bogey the gooseberry-grinder, ask mine ae.
Gooseberry Lay, subs. phr.
(thieves').—Stealing linen from
a line.
Gooseberry-picker, subs. (colloquial).—1.
A person whose
labour profits, and is credited to,
another; a ghost (q.v.).
