mouthful en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈmaʊθfʊl/
Etymology
From Middle English mouthful, mouth-full, mouthe full, from Old English *mūþfull, from Proto-West Germanic *munþafull, equivalent to mouth + -ful. Compare Dutch mondvol (“mouthful”), German Mundvoll (“mouthful”), Danish mundfuld (“mouthful”), Swedish munfull (“mouthful”), Icelandic munnfylli (“mouthful”). Compare also West Frisian mûlfol (“mouthful”).
Meanings
-
The amount that will fit in a mouth.
He swallowed a mouthful of sea water when he fell in.
-
(slang) Quite a bit.
“Unquestionably his metabolism is unduly susceptible to stresses resulting from the interaction of external excitations,” he said, and Bobbie patted him on the shoulder in a maternal sort of way, a thing I wouldn't have cared to do myself though our relations were, as I have indicated, more cordial than they had been at one time, and told him he had said a mouthful.
1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter VII:
-
Something difficult to pronounce or say.
If you thought Wytrzyszczka was a mouthful, wait till you try saying Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.
2024 December 4, “This place in NZ has such a long name that most people can't pronounce it”, in Times of India, archived from the original on 04 Dec 2024:"Tony, I'm the executive director of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Strategic Homeland Intelligence, Enforcement, and Logistics Division," explained Fury. Tony nodded. […] "Want a tip? Fire your namer of things, because that's a mouthful."
2010, Alexander Irvine, Iron Man 2: The Junior Novel, page 77:Although there have been many examples of double names, three always have been uncommon. The L.S.W.R. had Horsley & Ockham & Ripley, but the South Yorkshire Railway produced a real mouthful in Smithley, Darley Main & Worsborough. This was soon found to be too much, and the name of the station became Dovecliffe.
1951 March, M. D. Greville, “The Nomenclature of Railway Stations”, in Railway Magazine, page 196:“Yes, you may leave this little matter entirely to me, Mr Wooster.” “I wish you'd call me Bertie.” “Certainly, certainly.” “And might I call you Roderick?” “I shall be delighted.” “Or Roddy? Roderick's rather a mouthful.” “Whichever you prefer.”
1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter X:“She sells sea shells” is a bit of a mouthful to say.
-
A tirade of abusive language.
to give someone a mouthful
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mouthfuls | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| mouthsful | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
cupful · bucketful · bootful · gallon
Deriveds
mouthful of marbles · you said a mouthful
Hypernyms
Synonyms
nip · gulp · sip · drink · swig · belt · jawbreaker · draft · shot · chug · slug · mouthful · draught
Translations (54)
ro îmbucătură (amount that will fit in a mouth) · fi suullinen (amount that will fit in a mouth) · nl mondjevol (amount that will fit in a mouth) · sh за̏лога̄ј (amount that will fit in a mouth) · fr gorgée (amount that will fit in a mouth) · zu ithamo (amount that will fit in a mouth) · sh zȁlogāj (amount that will fit in a mouth) · gu કોળિયો (amount that will fit in a mouth) · es bocado (amount that will fit in a mouth) · vec bocon (amount that will fit in a mouth) · it morso (amount that will fit in a mouth) · pt bocado (amount that will fit in a mouth) · gd balgam (amount that will fit in a mouth) · la buccea (amount that will fit in a mouth) · es sermón (a tirade of abusive language) · es atrevido (a tirade of abusive language) · ro gură (amount that will fit in a mouth) · it boccone (amount that will fit in a mouth) · hu falat (amount that will fit in a mouth) · cy cegaid (amount that will fit in a mouth) · de Mondvoll (amount that will fit in a mouth) · th คำ (amount that will fit in a mouth) · no munnfull (amount that will fit in a mouth) · ru глото́к (amount that will fit in a mouth) · bg хапка (amount that will fit in a mouth) · nl mondvol (amount that will fit in a mouth) · tl samuol (amount that will fit in a mouth) · es palabrotas (a tirade of abusive language) · ca mossegada (amount that will fit in a mouth) · ca mos (amount that will fit in a mouth) · ar لُقْمَة (amount that will fit in a mouth) · ga lán béil (amount that will fit in a mouth) · cy llond ceg (amount that will fit in a mouth) · uz hoplam (amount that will fit in a mouth) · ca bocí (amount that will fit in a mouth) · ist bucun (amount that will fit in a mouth) · fa دهان پر (amount that will fit in a mouth) · ga bolgam (amount that will fit in a mouth) · mk за́лак (amount that will fit in a mouth) · scn vuccuni (amount that will fit in a mouth) · ru кусо́к (amount that will fit in a mouth) · io bokedo (amount that will fit in a mouth) · fr bouchée (amount that will fit in a mouth) · pl kęs (amount that will fit in a mouth) · my လုပ် (amount that will fit in a mouth) · da mundfuld (amount that will fit in a mouth) · el μπουκιά (amount that will fit in a mouth) · sv munfull (amount that will fit in a mouth) · as গৰাহ (amount that will fit in a mouth) · la buccella (amount that will fit in a mouth) · zu umthamo (amount that will fit in a mouth) · roa-gal becheil (amount that will fit in a mouth) · it boccata (amount that will fit in a mouth) · uz tishlam (amount that will fit in a mouth)