"Gimp"?

[Chuck C.]

Hi PGS Fans,
Another question from "Meet Mr. Mulliner": in "Came the Dawn,"
Angela is descibed as "beautiful, lissome,...and gimp." The last is
obviously a compliment, and does not carry its current meaning of
having a problem in walking. Anyone out there know what that meant at
the time when the story was written? I looked it up in my
English-American dictionary (BRITISH ENGLISH FROM A TO ZED) but struck
out.
Hopefully,
Chuck C.

[Ian Michaud, TWS]

Post by Chuck C.
Hi PGS Fans,
Another question from "Meet Mr. Mulliner": in "Came the Dawn,"
Angela is descibed as "beautiful, lissome,...and gimp." The last is
obviously a compliment, and does not carry its current meaning of
having a problem in walking. Anyone out there know what that meant at
the time when the story was written?

We turn to Gilbert and Sullivan for this one, specifically a splash of
dialogue in Act I of "The Gondoliers" from the scene where the Duke and
Duchess of Plaza-Toro present their daughter to Don Alhambra del Bolero,
the Grand Inquisitor of Spain.

---
Don Alhambra: So this is the little lady who is so unexpectedly called
upon to assume the functions of Royalty! And a very nice little lady, too!
Duke: Jimp, isn't she?
Don Alhambra: Distinctly jimp.
---

In his "The Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan" Ian Bradley explains that
"jimp is a word of Scandinavian origin meaning slender, slim, graceful
or neat."

The word's pronunciation begins with the 'j' sound in the word 'jump',
rather than the hard 'g' sound of the word 'gimp' (one who limps).

The Mixer

[Chuck C.]

Hi Mixer,
Wow! I'm impressed with your erudition! Many thanks.
Best,
CC

[Chuck C.]

Hi Mixer,
Wow! I'm impressed with your erudition! Many thanks.
Best,
CC