gobaloon

English

Alternative forms

Etymology
  • Diarmuid Ó Muirthile says[1] it derives from gobbalew, southwest England dialect for a coastguard exciseman, from French gobe-a-l’eau "one who seizes things on water".[2]

Pronunciation
  • enPR: gŏb'əlo͞onʹ
  • IPA(key): /ˌɡɒbəˈluːn/

Noun

gobaloon (plural gobaloons)

  1. (Ireland, slang) an oaf or fool
    • For quotations using this term, see Citations:gobaloon.
  2. (Ireland, slang, rare) a frightening or terrible thing
    • For quotations using this term, see Citations:gobaloon.

Adjective

gobaloon

  1. (Ireland, slang, rare) insane, crazy
    • For quotations using this term, see Citations:gobaloon.

References
  1. Diarmuid Ó Muirthile "The Words We Use" The Irish Times 21 March 1998
  2. Joseph Wright, English Dialect Dictionary Vol.2 p.666 (London: Henery Frowde, 1898)
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