Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gullible” come from?

gullible (English) comes from English gull, from Middle English gulle, from Proto-Brythonic gwuɨlann, from Proto-Celtic wailannā, from Proto-Indo-European wai — oh!; woe!.

gullible (English): Easily deceived or duped; naive, easily cheated...

Definitions

  1. Easily deceived or duped; naive, easily cheated...

Ancestry of “gullible”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgullA seabird of the genus "Larus" or of the family...
2Middle Englishgullefriendly
3Proto-Brythonicgwuɨlannseagull, gull
4Proto-Celticwailannāseagull
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwaioh!; woe!

Words derived from “gullible”

  • gullibly
  • nongullible
  • gullable
  • gullibleness
  • gullably
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wai →