gag

Meaning

1. A device to restrain speech, such as a rag in the mouth secured with tape or a rubber ball threaded onto a cord or strap.
2. An order or rule forbidding discussion of a case or subject.
3. Any suppression of freedom of speech.
4. A joke or other mischievous prank.
5. a device or trick used to create a practical effect; a gimmick
6. A convulsion of the upper digestive tract.
7. A mouthful that makes one retch or choke.
8. Unscripted lines introduced by an actor into his part.
9. Any of species Mycteroperca microlepis of groupers.
10. A shocking or surprising thing.
11. To experience the vomiting reflex.
12. To cause to heave with nausea.
13. To restrain someone's speech by blocking his or her mouth.
14. To pry or hold open by means of a gag.
15. To restrain someone's speech without using physical means.
16. To choke; to retch.
17. To deceive (someone); to con.
18. To astonish (someone); to leave speechless.
19. Abbreviation of group-specific antigen.
20. Initialism of glycosaminoglycan.

Etymology / origin

The noun is from Early Modern English gagge; the verb is from Middle English gaggen. Possibly imitative or perhaps related to or influenced by Old Norse gag-háls ("with head thrown backwards"; > Norwegian dialectal gaga (“bent backwards”)). The intransitive sense "to retch" is from 1707. The noun is from the 16th century, figurative use (for "repression of speech") from the 1620s. The secondary meaning "(practical) joke" is from 1863, of unclear origin.

Related words

Descendant words

• gag(Chinese) (bor)
• gag(Danish) (bor)
• gag(French) (bor)
• Gag(German) (bor)
• gag(Italian) (bor)
• げいげい(Japanese) (cog)
• ギャグ(Japanese) (bor)
• ギャグセン(Japanese) (der)
• 개그(Korean) (bor)
• gag(Spanish) (bor)

Sources

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