Words

Gascoigne n. (obsolete)

Monday 08 June 1998 23:02 BST

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GASCOIGNE, Gascogne and Gascoine are all, according to the OED, obsolete forms of Gascon: a native of Gascony in south-western France. In 1608 there were said to be 800 Gascoignes at Dieppe.

From that original meaning, the word came to mean: "anyone who resembles a Gascon in character; a braggart, boaster". Smollett in 1771 described some unfortunate character as: "a peacock in pride, in grimace a baboon, in courage a hind, in conceit a Gascoon". The word was also used for a kind of wine from Gascony. As long ago as 1550, Freiris of Berwik wrote of "ane gallone full of Gascone wine".

The derived word "Gasconade" is a verb or noun meaning: (to indulge in) extravagant boasting or vainglorious fiction.

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Words

Gascoigne n. (obsolete)

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