gobbet
UK[ˈɡɒbɪt]US[ˈɡɑːbɪt]
n
A small piece or lump of something, especially food.
n
A short extract from a text, especially one set for translation or comment in an examination.
Morpheme Breakdown
gobb
et
gobb
lump
et
diminutive suffix
Etymology
The word 'gobbet' entered Middle English from the Old French 'gobet', which itself derived from the verb 'gober', meaning "to swallow." The French term traces back to a Celtic source, likely Gaulish, related to words for a beak or mouth, suggesting a fundamental link to the act of taking something into the mouth. The diminutive suffix '-et' was attached to form a noun indicating a small, manageable piece—a morsel suitable for swallowing. Over time, its meaning expanded from a literal lump of food to encompass any short extract of text, metaphorically a piece of information to be mentally consumed or digested.
Analysis
Structure: gobb (lump) + et (diminutive suffix)
- gobb: Origin: Old French 'gobet', from 'gober' (to swallow). Functional role: Root conveying the core meaning of a lump or mouthful.
- et: Origin: Old French diminutive suffix '-et'. Functional role: Suffix indicating a small or lesser version of the root concept.
Examples
The recipe called for a gobbet of butter to be added to the sauce.
The exam paper presented a gobbet from Shakespeare's Hamlet for analysis.
He speared a gobbet of meat with his fork.