Sound reasoning, but this is English

Add comment September 5th, 2008

In response to the entry about “gulf,” someone asked whether “gulp” had a similar origin. Probably not, according to the dictionary.

It makes sense that if “gulf” as a verb means “to swallow,” the similar-sounding “gulp” would come from the same thing. Especially since “gulp” also means to swallow, although in particular ways: “hastily, greedily or in large amounts.”

It also can mean “to choke back as if swallowing; repress (a sob, etc.).”

However, its immediate ancestor is the Middle English “gulpen,” which probably came from the Dutch “gulpen” for “to gulp down.” This is one of those words whose origin is probably “imitative” or “echoic.” In other words, it sounds a lot like what it means.

The Dutch “gulpen” is akin to the Old English “gielpan,” which meant “to boast noisily” and eventually led to “yelp.”

These words arose back in the days before refined table manners, when there was a whole lot of “gulping” and “yelping” going on — and other things less fit for print.