goo-goo

== English == === Etymology 1 === First attested circa 1899, in US military slang, probably from American soldiers during the Philippine-American War hearing Tagalog gago (“idiot; fool; simpleton”) and Tagalog gaga (“female idiot; female fool”) and considering it to sound like babbling (goo goo ga ga). Possibly influenced by goo-goo eyes, which "was in vogue c. 1900 and may have contributed to this somehow" since early uses of goo-goo and gook refer specifically to prostitutes who followed army camps. See also gook. ==== Alternative forms ==== gugu ==== Noun ==== goo-goo (plural goo-goos) (ethnic slur, derogatory, offensive, vulgar) A Filipino person. === Etymology 2 === From good government. Attested from the 1890s. ==== Alternative forms ==== Goo-Goo ==== Noun ==== goo-goo (plural goo-goos) (US politics, derogatory) A government reformer. ===== Derived terms ===== goo-gooism ===== See also ===== do-gooder === Etymology 3 === Uncertain; perhaps from goggle. Attested from 1900. ==== Adjective ==== goo-goo (comparative more goo-goo, superlative most goo-goo) (slang, usually of the eyes) Amorous, affectionate. ===== Derived terms ===== goo-goo eyes === Etymology 4 === ==== Interjection ==== goo-goo (onomatopoeia) The noise of a baby trying to imitate speech. ===== Derived terms ===== goo goo ga ga ===== Translations ===== === References === Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “goo-goo”, in Online Etymology Dictionary. === See also === goo goo ga ga