gore
UK[ɡɔː]US[ɡɔːr]
v
To pierce or wound with a horn or tusk.
n
Blood that has been shed, especially as a result of violence.
n
A triangular or tapering piece of material used in sewing to shape or widen a garment.
Etymology
The modern English word 'gore' represents a fascinating convergence of three distinct Old English words that have merged in spelling. The verb, meaning 'to pierce,' derives from Old English gār, meaning 'spear,' connecting the action to the weapon. The noun for 'blood' comes from Old English gor, meaning 'dirt, filth,' reflecting an ancient semantic link between spilled blood and defilement. Finally, the sewing term originates from Old English gāra, meaning 'triangular piece of land,' a metaphor based on shape. All these strands trace back to the Proto-Indo-European root ǵʰeyH-, meaning 'to drive, impel,' which underpins the concepts of piercing, projecting shapes, and, by extension, the resulting gore.
Analysis
The word 'gore' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It is not productively formed from smaller, recognizable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The bull lowered its head, threatening to gore the matador.
The film was criticized for its excessive scenes of blood and gore.
She added a gore to the skirt to give it more flare at the hem.