Where does “gonzo” come from?

gonzo (Portuguese) comes from Old French gons, from Latin gomphus, from Ancient Greek γόμφος, from Proto-Hellenic gómpʰos, from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰos, from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰ- — to pierce, gnaw through; tooth, horn, peg.

gonzo (Portuguese): hinge device for the pivoting of a door

Definitions

  1. hinge device for the pivoting of a door

Ancestry of “gonzo”, step by step

gonzo traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French gons

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchgons
2Latingomphusnail, dowel, peg
3Ancient Greekγόμφοςbolt, dowel, nail; bond, fastener; cross-ribs of...
4Proto-Hellenicgómpʰosnail, peg
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵómbʰostooth; row of teeth; peg
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵómbʰ-to pierce, gnaw through; tooth, horn, peg

via Italian gonzo

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italiangonzosimpleton, dolt; dupe
2Spanishgansostupid, slow-witted; goose, gander; idiot, fool
3Gothic𐌲𐌰𐌽𐍃goose
4Proto-Germanicgansgoose
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰans-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰosEvery word from Proto-Hellenic gómpʰos