gaumless
English edit
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ˈɡɔːm.ləs/
Adjective edit
gaumless (not comparable)
- (dialectal) Alternative spelling of gormless
- 1835, “Derwentwater”, in The new British Novelist:
- "What could put secna gaumless notion as that into yer heed?" "A gaumless notion!" iterated Spour, putting on a look of sincerity offended.
- 1872, John Hartley, Yorkshire ditties, series 1 (reprint), page 126:
- […] an' shoo held up a bonny little lad abaat two days old, 'at stared at him as gaumless as gaumless could be, […]
- 1902, Arthur Smith, The Doin's O' Jim O' Doads: Sketches of Lancashire Life, page 60:
- Oh, he'll call; does ta think 'at he's as gaumless as thee?
Usage notes edit
Gaumless is the original spelling; gormless, which has become more common especially in non-rhotic dialects, uses r to indicate vowel length.