guzzle
UK[ˈɡʌz(ə)l]US[ˈɡʌz(ə)l]
v
To drink something quickly and greedily, often in large amounts.
v
To consume something (like fuel) in large, rapid, and wasteful quantities.
Etymology
The verb "guzzle" first appeared in English in the late 16th century. Its origin is obscure but is widely considered to be onomatopoeic or echoic, likely imitating the sound of liquid being poured or swallowed greedily, or perhaps the gurgling sound in the throat. This expressive formation aligns with other English verbs ending in "-le" that denote repetitive or energetic action, such as "guzzle," "gurgle," and "guzzle." The core semantic logic evolved from mimicking a sound associated with rapid, noisy consumption to describing the act itself, whether applied to drink, food, or metaphorically to resources like fuel.
Analysis
The word "guzzle" is a simplex word of uncertain origin, likely imitative or expressive in nature. It functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
The thirsty runners guzzled bottles of water after the marathon.
Don't just guzzle your soda; try to enjoy it slowly.
That old truck guzzles gasoline and is very expensive to run.