goit

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English gote (“channel, stream”), from Old English *gotu (“channel, gutter, drain”), from Proto-Germanic *gutō (“gutter, drain”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰew- (“to pour”). Cognate with Scots gote, goit, goate (“trench, ditch, watercourse”), Dutch goot (“gutter”), Middle Low German gote (“ditch”). More at gote.

Noun

goit (plural goits)

1. (UK, Yorkshire and Lancashire) A small artificial channel carrying water. Usually used with respect to channels built to feed mills.

Etymology 2

Popularised by the television series Red Dwarf. Possibly a shortening of goitre (i.e. a pain in the neck), or from git.

Noun

goit (plural goits)

1. (informal, pejorative) A fool.