gag

== Translingual == === Etymology === Clipping of English Gagauz, Gagauz gagauz, or Turkish Gagavuz. === Symbol === gag (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Gagauz. === See also === Wiktionary’s coverage of Gagauz terms == English == === Etymology === The noun is from Early Modern English gagge; the verb is from Middle English gaggen. Possibly imitative or perhaps related to or influenced by Old Norse gag-háls ("with head thrown backwards"; > Norwegian dialectal gaga (“bent backwards”)). The intransitive sense "to retch" is from 1707. The noun is from the 16th century, figurative use (for "repression of speech") from the 1620s. The secondary meaning "(practical) joke" is from 1863, of unclear origin. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ˈɡæɡ/ (Upper Midwestern US, Northwestern US, Canada, æ-raising) IPA(key): /ˈɡeɪ̯ɡ/ Rhymes: -æɡ Hyphenation: gag === Noun === gag (countable and uncountable, plural gags) A device to restrain speech, such as a rag in the mouth secured with tape or a rubber ball threaded onto a cord or strap. (law) An order or rule forbidding discussion of a case or subject. (figurative) Any suppression of freedom of speech. A joke or other mischievous prank. (film) a device or trick used to create a practical effect; a gimmick A convulsion of the upper digestive tract. (archaic) A mouthful that makes one retch or choke. (archaic, slang, uncountable) Unscripted lines introduced by an actor into his part. Mycteroperca microlepis, a species of grouper. Synonym: gag grouper (LGBTQ slang) A shocking or surprising thing. ==== Synonyms ==== (legal): gag order (joke): See also Thesaurus:joke ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === gag (third-person singular simple present gags, present participle gagging, simple past and past participle gagged) (intransitive) To experience the vomiting reflex. (transitive) To cause to heave with nausea. (transitive) To restrain someone's speech by blocking his or her mouth. (transitive) To pry or hold open by means of a gag. 1917, Francis Gregor (translator), De Laudibus Legum Angliae, Sir John Fortescue, written 1468–1471, first published 1543. […] some have their mouths gagged to such a wideness, for a long time, whereat such quantities of water are poured in, that their bellies swell to a prodigious degree […] (transitive, figuratively) To restrain someone's speech without using physical means. (ambitransitive) To choke; to retch. (ambitransitive, obsolete, slang) To deceive (someone); to con. (transitive, LGBTQ slang) To astonish (someone); to leave speechless. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== blech retch ==== Translations ==== === See also === ag-gag === Further reading === “gag”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. “gag”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. === Anagrams === agg == Chinese == === Etymology === From English gag. === Pronunciation === === Noun === gag (Cantonese) gag (joke or prank) ==== Derived terms ==== === Adjective === gag (Hong Kong Cantonese) funny; hilarious == Danish == === Etymology === Borrowed from English gag. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [ˈɡæːɡ] === Noun === gag c or n gag (joke or prank) ==== Declension ==== This noun needs an inflection-table template. === Further reading === “gag” in Den Danske Ordbog == French == === Etymology === Borrowed from English gag. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɡaɡ/ === Noun === gag m (plural gags) joke === Further reading === “gag”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Italian == === Etymology === Borrowed from English gag. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈɡɛɡ/ Rhymes: -ɛɡ === Noun === gag m (invariable) gag (joke or prank) Synonyms: scherzo, freddura; see also Thesaurus:battuta === References === === Further reading === gag in Dizionario Italiano Olivetti, Olivetti Media Communication gag in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana === Anagrams === agg. == Occitan == === Pronunciation === === Noun === gag m (plural gags) jay == Polish == === Etymology === Borrowed from English gag. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈɡak/ Rhymes: -ak Syllabification: gag === Noun === gag m inan (comedy) gag (joke or prank) ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === gag in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN gag in Polish dictionaries at PWN == Romanian == === Etymology === Borrowed from French gag. === Noun === gag n (plural gaguri) joke ==== Declension ==== == Spanish == === Etymology === Borrowed from English gag. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈɡaɡ/ [ˈɡaɣ̞] Rhymes: -aɡ Syllabification: gag === Noun === gag m (plural gags) gag (joke) === Further reading === “gag”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025 == Zhuang == === Pronunciation === (Standard Zhuang) IPA(key): /kaːk˧/ Tone numbers: gag8 Hyphenation: gag === Etymology 1 === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “From 各?”) ==== Adverb ==== gag (Sawndip forms 各 or 架 or 格, 1957–1982 spelling gag) by oneself; alone Synonym: (dialectal) haek on one's own; by oneself; without permission Synonym: (dialectal) gujgag just; only ===== Derived terms ===== === Etymology 2 === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “From 咯? 咳?”) ==== Verb ==== gag (1957–1982 spelling gag) to eject; to cough up Synonym: (dialectal) gak