Dictionary

Godwin en · NOUN

Etymology

From Old English Godwine (“God's friend”). The component -win is from Old English wine (“friend”). The second meaning is named after Michael Wayne Godwin (born 1956), American attorney and author.

Meanings

1. (informal) An inappropriate mention of the Nazis or Adolf Hitler in a discussion.
   • Presumably, because the institute producing the book promotes the idea that evolution isn't science, but an ideology, one that their fellows have pulled a Godwin on and attempted to tie to Nazism. 2008 September 25, John Timmer, “A biologist reviews an evolution textbook from the ID camp”, in ArsTechnica:

Forms

Relateds

Alwin · Alvin · Irwin · Goldwyn · Oswin · Godwinson · Edwin · Baldwin

Godwin en · PROPN

Etymology

From Old English Godwine (“God's friend”). The component -win is from Old English wine (“friend”). The second meaning is named after Michael Wayne Godwin (born 1956), American attorney and author.

Meanings

1. A surname originating as a patronymic based on a medieval given name.
2. (rare) A male given name.
3. A town in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States, named after pioneer settler.

Deriveds

Godwin's law · Mount Godwin-Austen · go Godwin