gousse

French

gousse (1)

gousses d'ail (2)

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French gousse, from Old French gose, gosse (“bean pod, hull, husk”), of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old Occitan gossa (“female dog, bitch”), from gos (“dog”), however the sense evolution is obscure; for similar semantic development, compare French caïeu (“clove of garlic”), from Latin catellus (“puppy”); along with English pup (“puppy”), also "offshoot from a banana plant."

Compare also Catalan gos (“dog”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡus/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -us

Noun

gousse f (plural gousses)

1. legume

   Synonym: (dated) légume

2. clove (of garlic)
3. (gay slang, dated) lesbian

Further reading

• “gousse”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Norman

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

gousse f (plural gousses)

1. (Jersey) clove (of garlic)