gossoon

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Irish garsún, from Old French garçun.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /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.’
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