goss

He now states, as one of the miseries of being tall, his frequent collision with the shop blinds projecting over the footway, which endanger his head—or what is of more consequence to him, his hat. Some malicious people, on seeing him in full chase up Regent-street after his goss. (a la Pickwick) compared his activity to a snail in full gallop, while others remarked on his affinity to a spider after a fly.