gobstopper

See also: gob stopper

English

Alternative forms

• gob stopper, gob-stopper

Etymology

gob (“mouth”) +‎ stopper

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɒbˌstɒp.ə(ɹ)/

Noun

gobstopper (plural gobstoppers)

1. (British, Ireland) A type of hard long-lasting candy, usually spherical in shape.

   Synonym: (US, Canada) jawbreaker

   • 1964, Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, New York: A. A. Knopf, page 95:

     “Everlasting Gobstoppers!”’ cried Mr. Wonka proudly. “They're completely new! I am inventing them for children who are given very little pocket money. You can put an Everlasting Gobstopper in your mouth and you can suck it and suck it and suck it and suck it and suck it and it will never get any smaller!”

   • 2014, Richard W. Hartel, AnnaKate Hartel, Candy Bites: The Science of Sweets, Springer, →ISBN, page 183:

     Hence, gobstopper—something that stops the mouth. If you want to stop someone from prattling on, simply stuff a gobstopper in his or her mouth. The Everlasting Gobstopper, a jawbreaker that changes colors and flavors, was the brainchild of Roald Dahl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 1964.

Derived terms

• gobstopper tree