gudgeon

¹ American  

[guhj-uhn] / ˈgʌdʒ ən /

noun

1. a small, European, freshwater fish, Gobio gobio, of the minnow family, having a threadlike barbel at each corner of the mouth, used as bait.

2. any of certain related fishes.

3. a person who is easily duped or cheated.

4. a bait or allurement.

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verb (used with object)

1. to dupe or cheat.

gudgeon ² American  

[guhj-uhn] / ˈgʌdʒ ən /

noun

1. Machinery. a trunnion.

2. a socket for the pintle of a hinge.

3. Nautical. a socket attached to the stern frame of a vessel, for holding the pintle of a rudder.

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gudgeon ¹ British  

/ ˈɡʌdʒən /

noun

1. a small slender European freshwater cyprinid fish, Gobio gobio, with a barbel on each side of the mouth: used as bait by anglers

2. any of various other fishes, such as the goby

3. bait or enticement

4. slang a person who is easy to trick or cheat

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verb

1. slang (tr) to trick or cheat

gudgeon ² British  

/ ˈɡʌdʒən /

noun

1. 1. a pivot at the end of a beam or axle

   2. the female or socket portion of a pinned hinge

2. nautical one of two or more looplike sockets, fixed to the transom of a boat, into which the pintles of a rudder are fitted

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Etymology

Origin of gudgeon¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English gogion, gogen, from Old French go(u)jon, from Latin gōbiōn- (stem of gōbiō ), variant of gobius goby

Origin of gudgeon²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gojoun, gog(e)on, from Old French go(u)jon, perhaps ultimately from Late Latin gu(l)bia a chisel; see origin at gouge

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gudgeon

The EA and Thames Water are investigating after dead European eels, sticklebacks, gudgeon and stone loach were discovered in the River Pool.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

Morose, georgette, cited, ingenuity, questionnaire, accessible, meringue, gudgeon, insoluble, parliamentary, aphorism, olfactory and lineaments cleared the stage of all but three.

From Time Magazine Archive

One day the gudgeon of the cutter’s rudder was missing, and was believed to have been stolen.

From The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 1 by Whymper, Frederick

“Well,” Clay returned, “there’s a gudgeon up on shore that evidently wants to get hold of your hook, and you with it.”

From The River Motor Boat Boys on the St. Lawrence The Lost Channel by Gordon, Harry

You are not bigger than a gudgeon, and you know how to swim, it is easy for you.

From With Fire and Sword An Historical Novel of Poland and Russia. by Sienkiewicz, Henryk