gudgeon

¹

[ guhj-uhn ]

noun

1. a small, European, freshwater fish, Gobio gobio, of the minnow family, having a threadlike barbel at each corner of the mouth, used as bait.
2. any of certain related fishes.
3. a person who is easily duped or cheated.
4. a bait or allurement.

verb (used with object)

1. to dupe or cheat.

gudgeon

²

[ guhj-uhn ]

noun

1. Machinery. a trunnion.
2. a socket for the pintle of a hinge.
3. Nautical. a socket attached to the stern frame of a vessel, for holding the pintle of a rudder.

gudgeon

¹

/ ˈɡʌdʒən /

noun

1. 1. a pivot at the end of a beam or axle
   2. the female or socket portion of a pinned hinge
2. nautical one of two or more looplike sockets, fixed to the transom of a boat, into which the pintles of a rudder are fitted

gudgeon

²

/ ˈɡʌdʒən /

noun

1. a small slender European freshwater cyprinid fish, Gobio gobio, with a barbel on each side of the mouth: used as bait by anglers
2. any of various other fishes, such as the goby
3. bait or enticement
4. slang.
   a person who is easy to trick or cheat

verb

1. slang.
   tr to trick or cheat

Word History and Origins

Origin of gudgeon¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English gogion, gogen, from Old French go(u)jon, from Latin gōbiōn- (stem of gōbiō ), variant of gobius goby

Origin of gudgeon²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gojoun, gog(e)on, from Old French go(u)jon, perhaps ultimately from Late Latin gu(l)bia a chisel; gouge

Word History and Origins

Origin of gudgeon¹

C14: from Old French goujon, perhaps from Late Latin gulbia chisel

Origin of gudgeon²

C15: from Old French gougon, probably from Latin gōbius; see goby

Example Sentences

Ex-captain Stephen Gudgeon said he was once held at gunpoint after refusing to hand over cigarettes at a port in Asia.

From BBC

Cecilia Muller Torbrand, the head of the MACN, said experiences as intimidating as Mr Gudgeon's were uncommon but that the shipping industry was "quite exposed to corruption risks", and that the number of incidents reported would be "the tip of the iceberg".

From BBC

Mr Gudgeon added that some crew are too afraid to report incidents because they are on contracts and fear they will be blacklisted and unable to get another job.

From BBC

Gudgeon says he thinks that those who offer some form of conversion therapy often believe they are trying to help youth struggling with their identity.

From BBC

The group is hoping to find a home for a memorial it houses from the USS Gudgeon, which fought in World War II before it was lost in June 1944.

From Washington Times