Brewer's: Gaberlunzie

or A gaberlunzie man (g hard). A mendicant; or; more strictly speaking, one of the king's bedesmen, who were licensed beggars. The word gaban is French for “a cloak with tight sleeves and a hood.” Lunzie is a diminutivo of laine (wool); so that gaberlunzie means “coarse woollen gown.” These bedesmen were also called blue-gowns (q.v.), from the colour of their cloaks. (See above, Gabardine.)

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