[Lexicog] origin of the word "gullible"

[Ron Moe]

American Heritage Dictionary:

gull-2 n A gullible person; dupe; simpleton. tr.v. To deceive; cheat; dupe.
[Probably from dialectal gull, unfledged bird, Middle English golle, gulle,
probably from gul, yellow, pale, form Old Norse gulr. See ghel-2 in
Appendix.]

gullible adj. Able to be gulled; easily decieved or duped; credulous. [From
gull (dupe).]  --gullibility n. --gullibly adv.

Of course since we are all lexicographers, we all know how hard it is to
figure out the etymology of a word. Which is probably why AMD starts the
etymology of gull with 'probably'. So, notwithstanding all the jokes about
'gullible' not being in the dictionary, how many of us believe AMD's
etymology?

Ron

-----Original Message-----
From: lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
[mailto:lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Allan Johnson
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 12:38 AM
To: lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Lexicog] origin of the word "gullible"


To Lexicography list -

Is anybody aware of any historical connection between the words "guile"
(deceit) and "gullible" (easily deceived)?  It seems quite plausible that
the word "gullible" could have developed from "guile-able".  But I see no
hint of a connection in the online dictionaries I've looked at.

Allan J




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