Gudgeon

/ˈɡʌdʒən/ · noun

Meaning

A common gudgeon, a small freshwater fish of species Gobio gobio, that is native to Eurasia..

Definitions by Sense

1. A common gudgeon, a small freshwater fish of species Gobio gobio, that is native to Eurasia.
2. (Canada) Cottus bairdii, more widely known as mottled sculpin.
3. (Australia) Any of various similar small fish of the family Eleotridae, often used as bait.
4. Other fish, similar in appearance, principally in families Butidae and Eleotridae, but also in others.
5. (figurative, archaic) A person apt to take the bait; one easily cheated or duped; also, an idiot.
6. (figurative, archaic) Something used to lure or tempt; bait, a lure.
7. (transitive, archaic) To deprive (someone) fraudulently; to cheat, to dupe.
8. (intransitive, archaic) To take the bait; to be defrauded or duped.

Example Sentences

[...] Ile tell thee more of this another time. / But fiſh not with this melancholy baite, / For this foole gudgin, this opinion: [...]

[...] Make Fools believe in their fore-seeing / Of things before they are in Being; / To swallow Gudgeons ere th' are catch'd, / And count their Chickens ere th' are hatch'd, [...]

The Gudgeon is reputed a fish of excellent taste, and to be very wholesome: he is of a fine shape, of a silver colour, and beautified with black spots both on his body and tail.

You save your souls here, eating cabbage, and think you are the righteous. You eat a gudgeon a day, and you think you bribe God with gudgeon.

The southern purple-spotted gudgeon [Mogurnda adspersa] can be hard to find. Although colourful, they are thin and only grow up to 12 centimetres.

The Doctor now obeys the Summons, / Likes both his Company, and Commons; / Diſplays his Talent, ſits till Ten; / Next Day invited, comes again; / Soon grows Domeſtick, ſeldom fails, / Either at Morning, or at Meals; / Came early, and departed late: / In ſhort, the Gudgeon took the Bait.

"Is it not also known that you two innocents were doing the Churches week by week? Was it not patent that sooner or later you would come to a Spiritualist gathering? Here was a chance for a convert! They set a bait and poor old gudgeon Malone came along and swallowed it."

"Don't be a gudgeon," she grumbled, tugging at the dress much more fiercely than was necessary. "If this works as you say it will, nobody will notice me."

Synonyms for gudgeon

Antonyms for gudgeon

Related Words

Word Forms

• gudgeons
• gudgeoning
• gudgeoned

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions