a term in medicine, denoting any protuberance or convexity of the body, as a person hunched or hump backed.

Infants are much more subject to gibbosity than adults, and it oftener proceeds from external than internal causes. A fall, blow, or the like, frequently thus distorts the tender bones of infants. When it proceeds from an internal cause, it is generally from a relaxation of the ligaments that sustain the spine, or a caries of its vertebrae; though the spine may be inflected forward, and the vertebra thrown out by a too strong and repeated action of the abdominal muscles. This, if not timely redressed, grows up and fixes as the bones harden, till in adults it is totally irretrievable; but when the disorder is recent, and the person young, there are hopes of a cure. The common method is by a machine of pateboard, wood, or steel, which is made to press principally on the gibbous part; and this by long wearing may set all right. The surgeons, however, have a different instrument, which they call a cross, much more efficacious, though not quite so convenient in the wearing. By the use of this, the parts are always prevented from growing any worse, and are often cured. During the application of these affixtures, the parts should be at times rubbed with hungary-water, spirit of lavender, or the like, and defended with a strengthening plaster.

in astronomy, a term used in reference to the enlightened parts of the moon, whilst she is moving from the first quarter to the full, and from the full to the last quarter: for all that time the dark part appears horned or falculated; and the light one hunched out, convex, or gibbous.

GIBEON, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, lying north of Jerusalem about 20 or 30 furlongs, and built upon a hill as its name imports.—This city gave birth to Saul, the first king of Israel, for which reason it is frequently called Gibeah of Saul, or Gibeah the native country of Saul.