gudgeons

Noun

gudgeon (plural gudgeons)

1. A small freshwater fish of species Gobio gobio, native to Eurasia.
   • […] Ile tell thee more of this another time. / But fiſh not with this melancholy baite, / For this foole gudgin, this opinion: […]c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. […] (First Quarto), [London]: […] J[ames] Roberts [for Thomas Heyes], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act...

   Synonyms:

   common gudgeon, goby, wapper

2. (Canada) Cottus bairdii, more widely known as mottled sculpin.
3. (Australia) Any of various similar small fish of the family Eleotridae, often used as bait.
   • The southern purple-spotted gudgeon [Mogurnda adspersa] can be hard to find. Although colourful, they are thin and only grow up to 12 centimetres.2012 October 5, Nicola Gage, “Murray Showing Signs of Recovery”, in ABC News, Sydney, N.S.W., archived from the original on 01 Nov 2019

   Synonyms:

   sleeper goby

4. Any of various other fish, similar in appearance and principally in families Butidae and Eleotridae.
5. (archaic, figuratively) A person apt to take the bait; one easily cheated or duped; also, an idiot.
   • The Doctor now obeys the Summons, / Likes both his Company, and Commons; / Diſplays his Talent, ſits till Ten; / Next Day invited, comes again; / Soon grows Domeſtick, ſeldom fails, / Either at Morning, or at Meals; / Came early, and departed late: / In ſhort, the Gudgeon took the Bait.1713, Jonathan Swift, “Horace, Epistle VII. Book I. Imitated and Addressed to the Earl of Oxford, in the Year 1713”, in Miscellanies. The Last Volume, London: […] Benjamin Motte, […], published 1733...

   Synonyms:

   chump, chumpion, cousin, cull, cully, dupe, dotterel, easy mark, fall guy, fish

6. (archaic, figuratively) Something used to lure or tempt; bait, a lure.

See all 10 meanings of gudgeon