gull

Meaning

Noun

1. A seabird of the genus Larus or of the subfamily Larinae.
2. Any of various pierid butterflies of the genus Cepora.

Verb

1. To deceive or cheat.
2. (US, slang) To mislead.
3. (US, slang) To trick and defraud.
4. (dialectal) To flatter, wheedle.

Verb

To sweep away by the force of running water; to carve or wear into a gully.

Synonyms

seagull

dupe

fool

mew

cheat

deceive

swindle

trick

defraud

bilk

bamboozle

mug

hoodwink

sucker

sea gull

befool

cod

cozen

patsy

chump

mark

soft touch

fall guy

con

put one across

beguile

bird

🐦

common gull

delude

diddle

double-cross

finagle

gullible

prey

put on

rook

simpleton

slang

sufferer

take in

victim

victimize

put one over

be outwitted

be tricked

morosoph

sacrifice

scapegoat

corrupt

cockscomb

Translations

mouette

gabbiano

gaviota

Möwe

meeuw

gaivota

γλάρος

goéland

gavina

Larus

gavian

dalgıç

martı

gavià

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɡʌl/

Etymology

Cognate with Welsh: gwylan

Cognate with Cornish: goolan

Cognate with Breton: gouelan

Cognate with Old Irish: faílenn

Cognate with Scottish Gaelic: faoileag

Cognate with French: goéland

Inherited from Middle English: golen

Inherited from Middle English: gole

Cognate with Old Dutch: gulla

Cognate with Old French: goille

In summary

Inherited from Middle English gulle, from a Brythonic language (compare Breton gouelan, Welsh gwylan, and Cornish golan), from Proto-Brythonic *gwuɨlann, from Proto-Celtic *weilannā (“seagull”).
Cognate with Old Irish foílenn, Scottish Gaelic faoileag. Compare French goéland, a borrowing from Breton. Eclipsed Middle English lare (borrowed from Latin larus) and Middle English mewe (from Old English mæw).