gull

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈgəl 

: any of numerous long-winged web-footed aquatic birds (subfamily Larinae of the family Laridae)

especially : a usually gray and white bird (especially of the genus Larus) differing from a tern in usually larger size, stouter build, thicker somewhat hooked bill, less pointed wings, and short unforked tail

gull

2 of 3

verb

gulled; gulling; gulls

transitive verb

: to take advantage of (one who is foolish or unwary) : deceive

gull

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a person who is easily deceived or cheated : dupe

Synonyms

Verb

• bamboozle
• beguile
• bluff
• buffalo
• burn
• catch
• con
• cozen
• deceive
• delude
• dupe
• fake out
• fool
• gaff
• gammon
• have
• have on [chiefly British]
• hoax
• hoodwink
• hornswoggle
• humbug
• juggle
• misguide
• misinform
• mislead
• snooker
• snow
• spoof
• string along
• suck in
• sucker
• take in
• trick

Noun (2)

• chump
• dupe
• mug [chiefly British]
• patsy
• pigeon
• pushover
• sap
• soft touch
• sucker
• tool

Examples of gull in a Sentence

Verb

we were gulled into believing that if we answered the e-mail, we'd somehow become millionaires, but instead we just got put on a list for junk mail

Noun (2)

was enough of a gull to fall victim to a pyramid scheme even though he'd been duped before

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In addition to bald eagles, other wildlife seen on the tour over the year includes: three types of grebes, three types of swans, three types of mergansers, many different gulls, loons, golden eagle, coyote, fox, deer, many hawk species, three types of seals and bobcats. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2024

Those choices included a squawking Australian accent that Hemsworth likened to a chatty sea gull, as well as a prosthetic nose partly selected to scramble the audience’s expectations of what Hemsworth can deliver as an actor. —Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 16 May 2024

Verb

That’s because the agency’s duty is to stand in the way of anyone desiring to push unsafe and ineffective drugs and devices at unwary consumers for profit, and also to stand in the way of a perverse idea that personal freedom includes the freedom to be gulled by charlatans. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024

People will be gulled into coughing up their life savings, playing unwitting roles in scams, or joining toxic movements. —Rob Reid, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh gwylan gull

Verb

obsolete gull gullet, from Middle English golle, from Anglo-French gule, gole

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1550, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1594, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gull

• gull wing
• herring gull
• laughing gull
• ring-billed gull

Kids Definition

gull

1 of 3 noun

ˈgəl 

: any of numerous mostly white or gray birds that have long wings and webbed feet and are typically found near water

gull

2 of 3 verb

: to take advantage of : deceive

gull

3 of 3 noun

: a person easily deceived or cheated : dupe

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gull "gull"; of Celtic origin

Verb

from obsolete English gull "gullet"