gag
UK[ɡæɡ]US[ɡæɡ]
v
To put something over or into someone's mouth to stop them from speaking or making noise.
v
To choke or have difficulty swallowing.
v
To make jokes, especially as a professional comedian.
n
Something put over or into a person's mouth to prevent speech or noise.
n
A joke or a humorous act.
Etymology
The word 'gag' originates from Middle English 'gaggen', a verb likely of imitative origin, mimicking the sound of choking or retching. This direct sensory link explains its core meaning related to obstructing the throat or mouth. By the late 18th century, the theatrical sense of 'gag' emerged, referring to an actor's improvised line that could 'choke' the expected flow of the script, which later generalized to mean any joke or comic bit. Thus, the word's journey connects a primal physical sound and action to a more abstract, performative concept in modern entertainment.
Analysis
The word 'gag' is considered a simplex word. It is an onomatopoeic formation, imitative of the sound made when choking or retching. Its functional role is as a base word, not productively formed from other English morphemes.
Examples
The kidnappers used a cloth to gag their prisoner.
The strong smell made me gag.
The comedian's opening gag had the entire audience laughing.