gudgeon en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈɡʌdʒən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈɡʌd͡ʒən/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈɡʌjən/ (General-American)
Etymology
The noun is derived from Late Middle English gojoun [and other forms], from Old French gojon, goujon (“gudgeon”), from Late Latin gōbiōnem, the accusative of gōbiō, the augmentative of Latin gōbius (“gudgeon”), from Ancient Greek κωβῐός (kōbĭós, “fish of the gudgeon kind”), probably of Semitic origin. The English word is a doublet of goby and goujon. The verb is derived from the noun.
Meanings
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A small freshwater fish of species Gobio gobio, native to Eurasia.
You save your souls here, eating cabbage, and think you are the righteous. You eat a gudgeon a day, and you think you bribe God with gudgeon.
1912, Fyodor Dostoevsky, “Why is such a Man Alive?”, in Constance Garnett, transl., The Brothers Karamazov […], New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, published 1922, part I, book II (An Unfortunate Gathering), page 73:[…] Make Fools believe in their fore-seeing / Of things before they are in Being; / To swallow Gudgeons ere th' are catch'd, / And count their Chickens ere th' are hatch'd, […]
1663 (indicated as 1664), [Samuel Butler], “The Second Part of Hudibras. Canto III.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 175:The Gudgeon is reputed a fish of excellent taste, and to be very wholesome: he is of a fine shape, of a silver colour, and beautified with black spots both on his body and tail.
1676, Izaak Walton, “[The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation: Part I […].] Observations of the Gudgeon, the Ruffe, and the Bleak, and How to Fish for Them.”, in Richard Le Gallienne, editor, The Compleat Angler, 5th edition, London; New York, N.Y.: John Lane, The Bodley Head, published 1897, →OCLC, page 199:[…] Ile tell thee more of this another time. / But fiſh not with this melancholy baite, / For this foole gudgin, this opinion: […]
c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. […] (First Quarto), [London]: […] J[ames] Roberts [for Thomas Heyes], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
- (Canada) Cottus bairdii, more widely known as mottled sculpin.
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(Australia) Any of various similar small fish of the family Eleotridae, often used as bait.
The southern purple-spotted gudgeon [Mogurnda adspersa] can be hard to find. Although colourful, they are thin and only grow up to 12 centimetres.
2012 October 5, Nicola Gage, “Murray Showing Signs of Recovery”, in ABC News, Sydney, N.S.W., archived from the original on 01 Nov 2019:
- Any of various other fish, similar in appearance and principally in families Butidae and Eleotridae.
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(archaic, figuratively) A person apt to take the bait; one easily cheated or duped; also, an idiot.
"Is it not also known that you two innocents were doing the Churches week by week? Was it not patent that sooner or later you would come to a Spiritualist gathering? Here was a chance for a convert! They set a bait and poor old gudgeon Malone came along and swallowed it."
1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:The Doctor now obeys the Summons, / Likes both his Company, and Commons; / Diſplays his Talent, ſits till Ten; / Next Day invited, comes again; / Soon grows Domeſtick, ſeldom fails, / Either at Morning, or at Meals; / Came early, and departed late: / In ſhort, the Gudgeon took the Bait.
1713, Jonathan Swift, “Horace, Epistle VII. Book I. Imitated and Addressed to the Earl of Oxford, in the Year 1713”, in Miscellanies. The Last Volume, London: […] Benjamin Motte, […], published 1733, →OCLC, page 149, lines 73–80:"Don't be a gudgeon," she grumbled, tugging at the dress much more fiercely than was necessary. "If this works as you say it will, nobody will notice me."
2004, Robert Jordan, “Making Use of Invisibility”, in New Spring, New York, N.Y.: Tor Books, Tom Doherty Associates, →ISBN, page 298:
- (archaic, figuratively) Something used to lure or tempt; bait, a lure.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gudgeons | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
flat-head gudgeon B · Barnett River gudgeon E · Eber gudgeon G · big-headed gudgeon E · Sakarya gudgeon G · southern purplespotted gudgeon E · eightbarbel gudgeon G · false-spotted gudgeon E · Amur white gudgeon · Dalmatian bargel-gudgeon C · snake-headed gudgeon · Cihanbeyli gudgeon G · South Caucasian gudgeon G · crested gudgeon B · northern carp-gudgeon E · crimson-tipped flathead gudgeon · purple-spotted gudgeon E · island gudgeon B · rainbow gudgeon G · Don gudgeon G · striped gudgeon E · Cherskii's thicklip gudgeon G · Lena gudgeon G · Prince Regent gudgeon E · golden gudgeon E · Danube gudgeon · black banded gudgeon E · Ohrid gudgeon G · Chinese false gudgeon G · firetailed gudgeon E · mullet gudgeon B · Soldatov's thicklip gudgeon · Kura gudgeon G · Skadar gudgeon G · Yarra gudgeon E · blind cave gudgeon · Nepean gudgeon E · striped-cheek gudgeon B · flathead gudgeon E · slender top-mouth gudgeon G · Varna gudgeon G · lined gudgeon G · olive flathead gudgeon B · small-eyed gudgeon · North Caucasian gudgeon · Amur false gudgeon G · ocellated gudgeon G · northern purplespotted gudgeon E · sunset gudgeon B · short-barbelled Crimean gudgeon G · Salgir gudgeon G · pointed-head gudgeon B · dwarf gudgeon E · Regent carp gudgeon E · empire gudgeon E · peacock-eye gudgeon E · united-lip gudgeon G · Pacific gudgeon G · Chersky's gudgeon · barred gudgeon B · Aru Island gudgeon E · blue gudgeon E · black-banded gudgeon · Persian gudgeon G · Caspian gudgeon G · variegated gudgeon E · Drysdale gudgeon E · Aru gudgeon · Butidae · ladder gudgeon B · Anatolian gudgeon G · Chinese lake gudgeon G · rare gudgeon G · Kuban gudgeon G · Mitchell gudgeon E · Daly river gudgeon E · long-finned gudgeon E · brown spine-cheek gudgeon E · brown gudgeon · eight-whiskered gudgeon · fartail coralgudgeon E · slender carp gudgeon · Cappodocian gudgeon G · Cox's gudgeon · doublespot gudgeon E · cave gudgeon M · black gudgeon E · throat-spine gudgeon E · Australian carp-gudgeon E · M. · Soldatov's toothed gudgeon G · fimbriate gudgeon E · marine gudgeon T · slender gudgeon E · topmouth gudgeon G · ebony gudgeon E · western carp gudgeon E · E. · Eyilikler gudgeon G · Graham's gudgeon T · Gale's carp-gudgeon E · few-pored gudgeon E · northern whitefin gudgeon G · Chornaya gudgeon G · Amur longnose gudgeon G · blind gudgeon M · northern bronze gudgeon G · eel-gudgeon Ga · yellowbelly gudgeon E · Isikli gudgeon G · five-rayed gudgeon G · black-spotted gudgeon B · sleeper gudgeon E · Amur whitefin gudgeon G · Ambon gudgeon B · fushun gudgeon G · tropical carp gudgeon E · crimson-tipped gudgeon B · eight-whisker gudgeon G · sinuous gudgeon E · long-nosed gudgeon G · false gudgeon G · Siberian gudgeon G · Greek stone gudgeon G · Danubian longbarbel gudgeon G · carp gudgeon E · Issyk-Kul gudgeon G · Ukrainian gudgeon G · Mulgoa gudgeon E · blackbanded gudgeon E · Cyprinidae · swamp gudgeon E · Don whitefin gudgeon G · golden carp gudgeon · Iberian gudgeon G · northern mud gudgeon B · Kuban long-barbelled gudgeon · deepreef gudgeon E · mud gudgeon E · Khanka gudgeon G · small Kuban gudgeon G · sea gudgeon G · Soldatov's gudgeon G · crimsontip gudgeon · white-finned gudgeon G · panial gudgeon E · Dniester longbarbel gudgeon G · T. · flat-headed gudgeon · Languedoc gudgeon G · Manchurian gudgeon G · peacock gudgeon · Tachanovsky's gudgeon G · firetail gudgeon · small silver gudgeon G · Danubian gudgeon · giant gudgeon E · Sentani gudgeon E · spangled gudgeon B · spinecheek gudgeon E · Chinese gudgeon B · pale gudgeon E · bull-headed gudgeon E · Danube delta gudgeon G · Kuban longbarbel gudgeon G · finescale gudgeon B · Papuan coralgudgeon E · spine-cheek gudgeon · G. · Jardine gudgeon E · poreless gudgeon E · Amur white-finned gudgeon · Cox gudgeon E · Beysehir gudgeon G · lizard gudgeon G · snakehead gudgeon E · Auvergne gudgeon G · Italian gudgeon G · Kessler's gudgeon G · freshwater gudgeon E · spottail gudgeon E · Thessaly gudgeon G · Ga. · dusky marine gudgeon E · smooth-scaled gudgeon E · smalleye gudgeon B · Chinese lizard gudgeon G · North Caucasian longbarbel gudgeon G
Synonyms
easy mark · loggerhead · nit · asstard · dumb cluck · shitneck · addlehead · featherbrain · dimbo · muggins · clot · toolbox · plank · fish · farthead · tomfool · oaf · meatball · dingleberry · twit · gonk · ninnyhammer · doof · dim bulb · pillock · dimbus · halfwit · noddy · dip · jackass · meathead · clown · mome · shitbrain · dope · peabrain · cully · fleabrain · pigeon · dumb bunny · dipstick · cousin · pinhead · goofball · snapperhead · knothead · mental midget · clodpate · rube · wantwit · muttonhead · stupid-head · goby · juggins · simp · numbskull · dunderhead · drivel · jackaninny · gimboid · bozo · airhead · lunk · gudgeon · wally · cuckoo · clod · yo-yo · peckerhead · twat · fucktard · cittern-head · sot · birdbrain · sheep · schlemiel · thicko · fopdoodle · brainlet · lamebrain · noodlehead · dingwad · saphead · knucklehead · asshead · dummy · doodle · mushhead · nincom · gomer · juggins · mongoloid · moron · live one · boob · blubberbrain · goofy · beanbrain · nincompoop · nimrod · space cadet · asshat · sucker · imbecile · dumble · chump · wazzock · lummox · tonto · peagoose · dumbfuck · ignoramus · gull · chowderhead · beetlebrain · dildo · crackhead · sap · buttbreath · simp · momo · donut · doofus · dingbat · dumbshit · prat · saphead · jerk · thickskull · hammerhead · sleeper goby · fathead · stooge · dupe · dork · mongtard · witless wonder · Boeotian · soft touch · spanner · mouth breather · goosecap · stupid · chucklehead · fenderhead · ding dong · idiot · dumbfucker · putz · doofoid · dunderpate · lunkhead · cretin · monkey · zany · dotterel · stupe · lackwit · bimbo · berk · ninny · ha'porth · gorbuson · brickhead · Alternative spelling of dumbass. · tosspot · ass · Charlie · shitwit · doldrum · silly · mark · fall guy · dummkopf · maroon · steamer · retard · wapper · Simple Simon · cull · bubble brain · assclown · donkey dick · fuckwit · wazzer · plonker · dolt · baboon · sap · dimwit · galoot · buffoon · fool · inbred · goon · shithead · eejit · goof · dumbnut · addle pate · drongo · addle-brain · chumpion · dumbling · beetlehead · goober · bufflehead · dipshit · nitwit · blockhead · drool bucket · deadhead · dumbbell · jellybrain · dunce · mutt · tard · fuck-knuckle · Vulgar: · stiff · pigwidgeon · simpleton · mug · smooth brain · schmo · bonehead · turkey · bubblehead · goose · asswipe · jughead · gudgeon · log · dumbo · muggins · dullard · common gudgeon · thickhead · put · chump · dumbhead
Translations (87)
sh кр̀куша (Gobio gobio) · ga brannóg (Gobio gobio) · sv sandkrypare (Gobio gobio) · et harilik rünt (Gobio gobio) · el γυφτόψαρο (Gobio gobio) · alt ийт балык (Gobio gobio) · tt ташбаш (Gobio gobio) · mdf шуварбек (Gobio gobio) · cv ырашпӑтри (Gobio gobio) · kk тасбас (Gobio gobio) · eo gobio (Gobio gobio) · cmn 鮈 /𬶋 (Gobio gobio) · pt gobião (Gobio gobio) · gd bronnag (Gobio gobio) · eu zarbo arrunt (Gobio gobio) · alt бӱтӱргӱ (Gobio gobio) · ro porcușor (Gobio gobio) · ba ҡомтөркөс (Gobio gobio) · ru обыкновенный пескарь (Gobio gobio) · izh peskari (Gobio gobio) · mrj кадама (Gobio gobio) · gd gùda (Gobio gobio) · ba хөмәй (Gobio gobio) · lt paprastasis gružlỹs (Gobio gobio) · hu küllő (Gobio gobio) · ka ჩვეულებრივი ციმორი (Gobio gobio) · hy սովորական քառթակ (Gobio gobio) · uk пічкур звичайний (Gobio gobio) · nl elzenvoorn (Gobio gobio) · mic so'qomu'j (Gobio gobio) · ca gobi (Gobio gobio) · grc κωβιός (Gobio gobio) · hu fenékjáró küllő (Gobio gobio) · olo peskari (Gobio gobio) · ota قیا بالغی (Gobio gobio) · sh kr̀kuša (Gobio gobio) · ang blǣġe (Gobio gobio) · fi torkkuja (fish of the family Eleotridae) · bg обикновена кротушка (Gobio gobio) · udm öлёк (Gobio gobio) · io gobio (Gobio gobio) · pl kiełb pospolity (Gobio gobio) · pt góbio (Gobio gobio) · pl kiełb (Gobio gobio) · nrf célérin (Gobio gobio) · cs hrouzek obecný (Gobio gobio) · la gōbius (Gobio gobio) · gd gùda (fish of the family Eleotridae) · os хъыппи (Gobio gobio) · tr dere kaya balığı (Gobio gobio) · ko 모샘치 (Gobio gobio) · de Gründling (Gobio gobio) · tt капкорсак (Gobio gobio) · sk hrúz obyčajný (Gobio gobio) · es gobio (Gobio gobio) · alt боскос (Gobio gobio) · lv grundulis (Gobio gobio) · pl kiełb krótkowąsy (Gobio gobio) · ru песка́рь (Gobio gobio) · ro porcușor comun (Gobio gobio) · sk hrúz škvrnitý (Gobio gobio) · it gobione (Gobio gobio) · mic so'qomu'j (Gobio gobio) · uz toshbosh (Gobio gobio) · nog суьйре (Gobio gobio) · cy symlyn (Gobio gobio) · alt битӱрген (Gobio gobio) · nb grundling (Gobio gobio) · lb Gif (Gobio gobio) · vi cá bống mú (Gobio gobio) · be пячку́р (Gobio gobio) · et rünt (Gobio gobio) · fr goujon (Gobio gobio) · nl riviergrondel (Gobio gobio) · fi törö (Gobio gobio) · nb sandkryper (Gobio gobio) · cs hrouzek (Gobio gobio) · ba ташбаш (Gobio gobio) · az qumlaqçı (Gobio gobio) · el μουστακάς (Gobio gobio) · oc trauguen (Gobio gobio) · gl gobio (Gobio gobio) · cy llyfrothen (Gobio gobio) · cy gwyniad pendew (Gobio gobio) · ba ҡомай (Gobio gobio) · mi taiwharu (Gobio gobio) · be пячкур звычайны (Gobio gobio)