gobaloon
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]- Diarmuid Ó Muirthile says[1] it derives from gobbalew, southwest England dialect for a coastguard exciseman, from French gobe-a-l’eau "one who seizes things on water".[2]
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]gobaloon (plural gobaloons)
- (Ireland, slang) An oaf or fool.
- For quotations using this term, see Citations:gobaloon.
- (Ireland, slang, rare) A frightening or terrible thing.
- For quotations using this term, see Citations:gobaloon.
Adjective
[edit]gobaloon
- (Ireland, slang, rare) insane, crazy
- For quotations using this term, see Citations:gobaloon.
References
[edit]- ^ Diarmuid Ó Muirthile "The Words We Use" The Irish Times 21 March 1998
- ^ Joseph Wright, English Dialect Dictionary Vol.2 p.666 (London: Henery Frowde, 1898)