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Where does the word "gutter" come from? It comes from Latin gutta, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "gutter" come from? It comes from Latin gutta, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Gutter’s story begins in Latin: gutta meant “drop.” The root of 'gout', once thought to be caused by dripping humours. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as goutiere. A channel for dripping rainwater. It reached English by 1200s as gutter. 'gutter press' for sleazy journalism dates from the 1800s. Today, gutter means a channel for carrying off rainwater.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient gutta "drop", the root of 'gout', once thought to be caused by dripping humours.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval goutiere "gutter", a channel for dripping rainwater.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s gutter "channel for water", 'gutter press' for sleazy journalism dates from the 1800s.