Visigoth

[ viz-i-goth ]

noun

1. a member of the westerly division of the Goths, which formed a monarchy about a.d. 418, maintaining it in southern France until 507 and in Spain until 711.

Visigoth

/ ˈvɪzɪˌɡɒθ /

noun

1. a member of the western group of the Goths, who were driven into the Balkans in the late 4th century ad . Moving on, they sacked Rome (410) and established a kingdom in present-day Spain and S France that lasted until 711

Derived Forms

• ˌVisiˈgothic, adjective

Other Words From

• Visi·gothic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Visigoth¹

1605–15; < Late Latin Visigothī (plural) < Germanic, equivalent to unattested wisi- (cognate with west ) + goth- Goth ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Visigoth¹

C17: from Late Latin Visigothī (pl), of Germanic origin, visi- perhaps meaning: west

Example Sentences

In 1929, it rampaged through Florida’s ag business like Visigoths sacking Rome.

From Los Angeles Times

Students and administrators alike hate him, and the feeling is mutual; terms Hunham describes his overprivileged charges with range from “genuine troglodytes” to “snarling Visigoths.”

From Los Angeles Times

And a good thing too, since in Paul’s own estimation, Barton boys are, with rare exception, a hopeless bunch of “philistines,” “reprobates,” “troglodytes,” “degenerates,” “hormonal vulgarians,” “fetid layabouts” and “snarling Visigoths.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Vandals and Visigoths must have felt that way; Donatello and Brunelleschi no less.

From Washington Post

Rome has been invaded by Gauls, Visigoths and vandals over the centuries, but the Eternal City is now grappling with a rampaging force of wild boars.

From Los Angeles Times