gudgeon:
(plural: ‘gudgeons‘; for the right pronunciation of this word, please click here)
Apart from several other meanings/definitions…
a person who is easily cheated/deceived,
a spiritual guru, L & his gudgeons (gullible followers)
e.g.
According some authorities, this word, which has several meanings, is used to refer to a person who is very easily cheated after a fish which is very easy to catch.
Most married men feel that they are made ‘gudgeons’ by their immoral wives.
In politics, the success of a politician in an election depends on how many gudgeons, voters who are too innocent to see though his/her false promises and selfish motives, he/she can catch!
A more common meaning is a small spiny-finned fresh-water fish. For example, “In America, the minnows, a kind of small fish, are often called ‘gudgeon’.
Note: ‘Gudgeon’, always with a capital ‘G’, is found in the names of people, e.g. Thomas Gudgeon, Raymond Gudgeon, Chris Gudgeon, Shellie Gudgeon, etc. For an article about the origin of this word as a surname/family name, please click here. For an interesting article that shows how ‘gudgeon’ is sued not only for a small fish but also for the gullible people, please click here. Gudgeon is also used to refer to some parts in machinery, especially in motor engines. For an article that explains the purpose of a gudgeon, please click here.
Return to “gudgeon” in Animals in Language.
