gulls

Noun (1)

gull (plural gulls)

1. A seabird of the genus Larus or of the subfamily Larinae.
   • The tide was out, and we drew up amid the strong bracing smell of seaweed, with gulls screeching, wheeling around, and gliding on the wind.1947 January–February, O. S. Nock, “‘The Aberdonian’ in Wartime”, in The Railway Magazine, volume 93, number 567, page 8

   Synonyms:

   mew, seabird, seagull, seamew

2. Any of various pierid butterflies of the genus Cepora.

Noun (2)

gull (plural gulls)

1. (slang) A cheating trick; a fraud.
   • BENEDICK. [Aside] I should think this a gull, but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it: knavery cannot, sure, hide itself in such reverence.1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
2. A stupid animal.
3. One easily cheated; a dupe.
4. (obsolete, Oxford University slang) A swindler or trickster.
   • You'll excuse me, sir, but as you are fresh, take care to avoid the gulls; they fly about here in large flocks, I assure you, and do no little mischief at times." "I never understood that gulls were birds of prey," said I.—"Only in Oxford, sir; and here, I assure you, they bite like hawks, and pick...1825, Bernard Blackmantle, The English Spy

See all 15 meanings of gull