gudgeon

Meanings

Noun

• A small freshwater fish, Gobio gobio, that is native to Eurasia.
• Any of various similar small fish of the family Eleotridae (family), often used as bait.
• A person apt to take the bait; one easily cheated or duped; also, an idiot.
• Something used to lure or tempt; bait, a lure.
• A circular or cylindrical fitting, often made of metal, into which a pin or pintle fits to create a hinge or pivoting joint.
• In a vessel with a stern-mounted rudder: the fitting into which the pintle of the rudder fits, allowing the rudder to swing freely.

Verb

• To deprive (someone) fraudulently; to cheat, to dupe.
• To take the bait; to be defrauded or duped.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• joso

Origin

• The noun is derived from Late Middle English gojoun, from Old French gojon, goujon, from Late Latin gōbiōnem, the accusative of gōbiō, the ablative or dative singular of Latin gōbius, from Ancient Greek κωβῐός, probably of Semitic origin. The English word is a goby, and goujon.
• The verb is derived from the noun.
• . Gouge is derived from Late Latin gulbia, gubia, ultimately from Proto-Celtic *gulbā, *gulbīnos.