[Lexicog] origin of the word "gullible"

[MARC FRYD]

Fritz,
It is only a wild guess, of course. So don't hold me to it!!
The connection is that a gullible person will believe, read 'swallow',
everything.
Like I said, just a wild hunch.
Best,
Marc


Fritz Goerling wrote:

>Marc,
>
>I have to do my own research on this question which I can't
>because I am travelling. At the moment, I can only say that
>I do not see any connection between "gullible" and French
>"gueule."
>Can you explain more what you mean?
>
>Fritz Goerling
>
> MARC FRYD <marc.fryd at univ-poitiers.fr> wrote:
>
>
>
>>Allan,
>>The word "gueule" in French means face ( 'sale gueule' ) or mouth (
>>'(ferme) ta gueule!). Neutral when used for animals, it takes on argotic
>>connotations when used for humans.
>>This strikes me as a plausible origin of your 'gullible'.
>>Regards,
>>Marc
>>
>>
>>Allan Johnson wrote:
>>
>>>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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>>>Yahoo! Groups Links
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