gull

¹

[ guhl ]

noun

1. any of numerous long-winged, web-toed, aquatic birds of the family Laridae, having usually white plumage with a gray back and wings.

gull

²

[ guhl ]

verb (used with object)

1. to deceive, trick, or cheat.

   Synonyms: hoodwink, bamboozle, fool, dupe, cozen

noun

1. a person who is easily deceived or cheated; dupe.

gull

¹

/ ɡʌl /

noun

1. a person who is easily fooled or cheated

verb

1. tr to fool, cheat, or hoax

gull

²

/ ɡʌl /

noun

1. any aquatic bird of the genus Larus and related genera, such as L. canus ( common gull or mew ) having long pointed wings, short legs, and a mostly white plumage: family Laridae, order Charadriiformes larine

Derived Forms

• ˈgull-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• gull-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gull¹

1400–50; late Middle English gulle, perhaps < Welsh gŵylan, Cornish guilan (compare French goéland < Breton gwelan )

Origin of gull²

First recorded in 1540–50; perhaps akin to obsolete gull to swallow, guzzle

Word History and Origins

Origin of gull¹

C16: perhaps from dialect gull unfledged bird, probably from gul, from Old Norse gulr yellow

Origin of gull²

C15: of Celtic origin; compare Welsh gwylan

Example Sentences

Come April, seabirds—including western gulls and California brown pelicans—begin nesting in earnest.

From Outside Online

One of the problems they had at JFK was an overpopulation of gulls.

From Popular-Science

After 50 years, members of the Huna Tlingit people can finally collect harvest sea gull eggs again in Glacier National Park.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, and a terrible lie—designed to gull money from a generous, unsuspecting public.

From The Daily Beast

“These were not the finest Santa suits,” said the bartender at the Rusty Gull.

From The Daily Beast

Gull introduced Mortenson to the villagers as being a medical doctor and professor at an American medical college.

From The Daily Beast

Asma Gull Hasan was born in Chicago to Pakistani immigrant parents and grew up in Colorado.

From The Daily Beast

On this occasion, however, the tug appeared somewhat late on the scene, and hailed the Gull.

From Project Gutenberg

The drama, as far as the Gull-Light was concerned, ended that night with the disappearance of the tug and lifeboat.

From Project Gutenberg

The mate and men rushed on deck in time to see a large ship pass close to the bow of the Gull.

From Project Gutenberg

Little more than an hour before midnight another craft was observed driving down on the hawse of the Gull.

From Project Gutenberg

Meanwhile the sun went down, and the lanterns of the Goodwin, the Gull, and the South sandhead floating lights went up.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dupe
• fool
• mark
• patsy
• pigeon