gauche

Meaning

Synonyms

Translations

Notes

Extra tools

Awkward or lacking in social graces; bumbling; apt to make gaffes.
(archaic) Skewed, not plane.
Describing a torsion angle of 60°.

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɡəʊʃ/

Cognate with Old High German

Cognate with Old English

Cognate with English

Cognate with Old Norse

In summary

Borrowed from French gauche (“left, awkward”), from gauchir (“to veer, turn”), from Old French gaucher (“to trample, walk clumsily”), from Frankish *walkan (“to full, trample”), from Proto-Germanic *walkaną (“to full, roll up”). Akin to Old High German walchan (“to knead”), Old English wealcian (“to roll up, curl”) and English walk, Old Norse valka (“to drag about”). More at walk.