Dictionary

seagull en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈsiː.ɡʌl/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /ˈsiː.ɡɔl/ (Australia)
• /ˈsiː.ɡɐl/ (Australia)

Etymology

From sea + gull. The second element is from a Brythonic language. Compare Welsh gwylan, Breton gouelan.

Meanings

1. Any of several white, often dark-backed birds of the family Laridae having long, pointed wings and short legs.
   • And while there are plenty of benches, there's little shelter from the wind (or predatory seagulls the size of dogs) out on the platforms. 2024 November 13, Paul Bigland, “Much to admire... but pockets of neglect”, in RAIL, number 1022, page 49:
2. The symbol ̼, which combines under a letter as a sort of accent.
3. (UK, slang) A fan or member of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.

Forms

Deriveds

seagulling · seagull manager (Compound words and expressions) · seagull approach (Compound words and expressions) · seagull intersection (Compound words and expressions)

Synonyms

gull (bird) · seamew (bird) · mew (bird)

wikidata: Q3112866

seagull en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈsiː.ɡʌl/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /ˈsiː.ɡɔl/ (Australia)
• /ˈsiː.ɡɐl/ (Australia)

Etymology

From sea + gull. The second element is from a Brythonic language. Compare Welsh gwylan, Breton gouelan.

Meanings

1. (Australia, New-Zealand, UK, of a forward, slang) To run in the back line rather than concentrate on primary positional duties in open play.
   • That occurred in the 12th minute when flanker George Smith, seagulling out wide, enjoyed the rewards of a two-man overlap to score. 2003 November 2, Greg Growden, “Australia survives scare”, in The Age:
   • Samo seagulled for Australia's final try two minutes from time. 2011 September 24, Darren Walton, “Injuries sour Wallabies 67-5 win over USA”, in MSN NZ:
   • France was full of running and continued to spread the ball wide or kick in behind the defence, where towering right-winger Aurelien Rougerie and the seagulling French back row had a height advantage contesting the high ball. 2003 November 10, Mark Fuller, “Impeccable France outclasses Ireland”, in The Age:
   • On hand was seagulling number eight Dave Hodges to cross for the all-important try. 2002 December 13, “Sharks beached at Stradey”, in BBC Sport:
   • […] and when you need cover for the fullback because of the bombs raining down, when the walking maul requires every forward to quit seagulling and actually do some hard graft, then the rest of the game opens up. 2002 September 24, Greig Blanchett, “Re: The Immorality of the Drop Goal”, in rec.sport.rugby.union (Usenet):
2. (qualifier:boating slang) To use a British Seagull outboard.
   • It should be considered a style of outboarding I believe. Seagulling arround^([sic]) and all. 2007 December 19, Douglas Eagleson, “Re: british seagull info request”, in rec.boats.cruising (Usenet):
3. (New-Zealand) To work as a non-union casual stevedore.
   • The only stories he told of his life were of how hard he had worked, seagulling on the wharf, standing in blood and guts at the Works, loading trucks with sacks of fertiliser and grain at the Farmers' Co-op. 1993, Beryl Fletcher, The Iron Mouth, Spinifex Press, published 1993, →ISBN, page 60:
   • Bill had been seagulling on the wharf since he got back from the war. 1964, O. E. Middleton, A Walk on the Beach, M. Joseph, page 215:
   • At that time many of them seagulled on the Mt Maunganui wharf to make a crust in order to carry on with their ideal of kiwifruit as a major exporting industry. 1981, Parliamentary Debates, volume 437, page 374:

Forms