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Added 10 October 2026

gouge

/ˈɡaʊ̯d͡ʒ/ noun

In Latin: gulbia Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about gouge at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An impression in a surface (as made by a blow).
And edge tool with a blade like a trough for cutting channels or grooves.
The act of gouging.

verb

Force with the thumb.
gouge out his eyes
Obtain by coercion or intimidation.
They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss
Make a groove in.

Origin

From Middle English gouge (“chisel with concave blade; gouge”), from Old French gouge, goi (“gouge”), from Late Latin goia, gubia, gulbia (“chisel; piercer”), borrowed from Gaulish *gulbiā, from Proto-Celtic *gulbā, *gulbi, *gulbīnos (“beak, bill”). The English word is cognate with Italian gorbia, gubbia (“ferrule”), Old Breton golb, Old Irish gulba (“beak”), Portuguese goiva, Scottish Gaelic gilb (“chisel”), Spanish gubia (“chisel, gouge”), Welsh gylf (“beak; pointed instrument”), gylyf (“sickle”). The verb is derived from the noun.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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