Gag

a woman wearing a ball gag

A gag is designed to prevent speech or the subject making noise. This may be by blocking the mouth partially or completely to preventing the tongue, lips, or jaw from moving. Gags may endanger the subject's life, so a gagged person should never be left alone.

A cloth gag over the mouth may also be used to keep dust and aerosols out of the lungs.[1]

Other uses of the word

The word "gag" has various meanings, for example:

  • Court orders to prevent information being published. See gag order.
  • A gag rule can be a part of court proceedings and parliamentary proceedings.
  • Gag (medical device) to keep the mouth open
  • A gag bit is a bit used with horses.

In symbolism

  • In political cartoons a character may be shown gagged to indicate that an order prevents them from speaking about a matter.

See also

References

  1. Described, and called a "gag", in a recorded commentary in the Catalyst chemical industry museum in Runcorn (Cheshire, England), to keep alkali dust out of workers' lungs in the early years of the chemical industry in Britain.
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