gobble
UK: ˈɡɒb.əl | US: ˈɡɑː.bəl
vt. to eat quickly and greedily
vi. (of a turkey) to make a rapid, guttural sound
n. the sound made by a turkey
gobble = gob<mouth (slang)> + le<frequentative verb suffix>
- gob <mouth (slang)>: Derived from Irish/Scottish Gaelic "gob" (beak/mouth), later adopted into English slang.
- le <frequentative verb suffix>: A suffix indicating repeated or habitual action (e.g., "dabble," "crackle").
Etymology Origin:
The word "gobble" likely originated from the slang term "gob" (mouth), emphasizing the noisy, rapid action of eating or the turkey's sound. The "-le" suffix reinforces the repetitive nature of the action, whether devouring food or the turkey's call. The dual meanings reflect both human and animal behaviors tied to urgency or greed.
The children gobbled up their Halloween candy in minutes.
Wild turkeys gobble loudly at dawn.
He gobbled his lunch before rushing back to work.
The audience gobbled up every word of the thrilling speech.
A turkey’s gobble can be heard from far away.