gossoon

English

Alternative forms

• gorsoon

Etymology

Alteration of garsún, ultimately from Old French garçun.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ɡɒˈsuːn/

Noun

gossoon (plural gossoons)

1. (Ireland) A young boy, a servant boy; a lackey.
   • 1866 Patrick Kennedy, "Jack and His Comrades" in: Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts

     ..and a whole army of gorsoons were hunting a poor dog with a kittle tied to his tail.

   • 2002, Joseph O'Connor, Star of the Sea, Vintage 2003, p. 63:

     ‘He wants to be something he's not,’ he'd say. ‘He's fish, that gossoon, and he wants to be fowl.’