Monday Word: Goyle

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

goyle [or goyal] [gȯi(ə)l]

noun

dialectal, England: a steep narrow valley : RAVINE, GULLY


examples

1. These, though known for their valour and their breed, were whimpering in a cluster at the head of a deep dip or goyal, as we call it, upon the moor. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

2. In front, where a goyle runs up to a hollow of the hill, the ground has been cleared of wood, and the forest of tall teazle-tops is full of goldfinches, flying from seed-head to seed-head, too tame to mind the noise or care for anything but their breakfast. The Naturalist on the Thames 1882

origins

Unknown. Its earliest known use dates back to the early 1600s, with the first recorded instance in 1617 by John Lane. The word is possibly derived from the term "gool," which also refers to a gully or depression. Found (initially) in the dialects of Somerset and Devon.

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

Cool!

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

👍

[prettygoodword]

I'd assumed it was a dialect variation on gully (which is likely related to gullet, of Latin origin). Looks like some dictionaries agree, while others follow the gool (which is ultimately from Cornish) hypothesis.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

👍

[sallymn]

Oh I like this word... and the picture!

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you!