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

Topmouth gudgeon carries a deadly disease for native UK fishes Work to remove a deadly fish species from three lakes at the Millennium Coastal Park in Llanelli is entering the second phase.

From BBC

"We used to have lots of roach and dace and see gudgeon after gudgeon, but you hardly see any now," Meadhurst said.

From The Guardian

One day the gudgeon of the cutter’s rudder was missing, and was believed to have been stolen.

From Project Gutenberg

A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.

From Project Gutenberg

The attention of this foundry was directed to casting gudgeons for water and horse mills, dog and smoothing irons, and odd oven lids.

From Project Gutenberg