gloppen

transitive verb

glop·​pen

ˈgläpə̇n

-ed/-ing/-s

now dialectal, England

: surprise, alarm, astonish

Word History

Etymology

Middle English glopnen, from Old Norse glūpna to be surprised, frightened, or downcast; akin to Swedish dialect glūpa to gape, swallow, Old Frisian glūpa to look, Middle Low German glūpen to look with half-closed eyes, and perhaps to Old English geolu yellow

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now