GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Gan (?), imp. of Gin. [See Gin, v.] Began; commenced.
   
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   ☞ Gan was formerly used with the infinitive to form compound imperfects, as did is now employed. Gan regularly denotes the singular; the plural is usually denoted by gunne or gonne.
   
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   This man gan fall (i.e., fell) in great suspicion. Chaucer.
   
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   The little coines to their play gunne hie (i. e., hied). Chaucer.
   
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   Later writers use gan both for singular and plural.
   
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   Yet at her speech their rages gan relent. Spenser.
   
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2.       
   Gin (gĭn), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gan (găn), Gon (gŏn), or Gun (gŭn); p. pr. & vb. n. Ginning.] [OE. ginnen, AS. ginnan (in comp.), prob. orig., to open, cut open, cf. OHG. inginnan to begin, open, cut open, and prob. akin to AS. gīnan to yawn, and E. yawn. √31.  See Yawn, v. i., and cf. Begin.] To begin; -- often followed by an infinitive without to; as, “gan tell”. See Gan. [Obs. or Archaic] “He gan to pray.”  Chaucer.
   
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