glutton

¹

[gluht-n]

noun

1. a person who eats and drinks excessively or voraciously.

   Synonyms: chowhound, gastronome, gourmand

2. a person with a remarkably great desire or capacity for something.

   a glutton for work;

   a glutton for punishment.

glutton

²

[gluht-n]

noun

1. the wolverine, Gulo gulo, of Europe.

glutton

¹

/ ˈɡlʌtən /

noun

1. a person devoted to eating and drinking to excess; greedy person

2. ironic,  a person who has or appears to have a voracious appetite for something

   a glutton for punishment

glutton

²

/ ˈɡlʌtən /

noun

1. another name for wolverine

Other Word Forms

• gluttonous adjective
• gluttonously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of glutton¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English glutun, from Old French glouton, from Latin gluttōn-, stem of gluttō, variant of glūtō, akin to glūtīre “to gulp down”

Origin of glutton²

First recorded in 1665–75; translation of German Vielfraß, from viel “much” (cognate with obsolete English fele; plus ( def. ) ) + fraß “eater” (noun derivative of fressen “to eat” (used of animals); fress ( def. ), fret ¹ ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of glutton¹

C13: from Old French glouton, from Latin glutto, from gluttīre to swallow

Origin of glutton²

C17: from _glutton ¹ , apparently translating German Vielfrass great eater

Example Sentences

He was a large man, over 6 feet tall, and, we learn from Mr. Margolick, a glutton.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Black holes are often described as cosmic gluttons, consuming everything that drifts too close -- including light itself.

Read more on Science Daily

Six is a perfect number, and seven is a prime number, but only a glutton for punishment would put them together in front of a bunch of 13-year-olds.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Sheard is either a glutton for punishment or determined to prove his worth no matter how many times Narbonne has to start over.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Like a moth to a flame, there is just something about all that color and texture; I am a glutton for disappointment where fruitcake is concerned.

Read more on Salon