Gorge Means Throat, Which Explains Gorgeous and Disgorge
A gorge is a narrow rocky valley. The word means throat in French, which links it to gorgeous, disgorge and gargle.
A gorge is a deep narrow valley with steep rocky sides, and as a verb it means to eat greedily. Both come from Old French *gorge*, the throat: a river gorge is a throat cut through rock, and to gorge is to fill your own. The same root gives *disgorge*, to bring back up, *gargle*, and *gorgeous* — originally elaborate about the neck and throat, from fashionable ruffs. *My gorge rises* means I feel disgust, using the oldest sense of all.
- A narrow rocky valley. *The Avon Gorge.*
- To eat greedily. *They gorged themselves.*
- The throat (archaic). *My gorge rises.*
- Disgorge — to bring up. *Disgorge the contents.*
- Gorgeous — from the same root. *A gorgeous dress.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | gorge | A deep gorge. |
| Plural | gorges | Two gorges. |
| Verb | gorge | Gorge on cake. |
| Verb | disgorge | Disgorge it. |
| Old French | gorge | Throat. |
- The river cut a gorge through the limestone.Geography.
- They gorged themselves at the buffet.Eating.
- Gorge means throat in French.Etymology.
The throat family
- Gorge — a rocky throat, or to fill one
- Disgorge — to bring back up
- Gargle — to make a sound in the throat
- Gorgeous — originally elaborate about the neck
- Gargoyle — a water spout, from the gurgling throat sound
Old French *gorge*, throat, from Late Latin *gurga*, a variant of *gurges*, a whirlpool or gullet.
Are gorge and gorgeous related?
Yes. Gorgeous originally described elaborate dress around the neck and throat, from the same French word.
What does my gorge rises mean?
I feel nauseated or disgusted. It uses the original sense of gorge as the throat.