gudgeon

gudgeon · noun, verb¹

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromκωβῐός“fish of the gudgeon kind”
2. Latin · derived fromgōbius“gudgeon”
3. Late Latin · derived fromgōbiōnem
4. Old French · derived fromgojon
5. Middle English · inherited fromgojoun
6. English todaygudgeon

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.

gudgeon · noun²

1. Proto-Celtic · derived from*gulbā
2. Late Latin · derived fromgulbia
3. Old French · derived fromgoujon“dowel; pin”
4. Middle English · inherited fromgojoun“metal fitting with a ring at one end”
5. English todaygudgeon

From Middle English gojoun (“metal fitting with a ring at one end”) [and other forms], from Old French goujon (“dowel; pin”) [and other forms], from gouge (“gouge (tool)”) + -on (suffix forming diminutives). Gouge is derived from Late Latin gulbia, gubia (“chisel”), ultimately from Proto-Celtic *gulbā, *gulbīnos (“beak, bill”).

Words from the same roots