gar·gle
 gargle
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- pronunciation:
- gar
g
l
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
gargles, gargling, gargled |
| definition: |
Gargling is something you might do when you have a cold or flu and your throat feels bad. When you gargle, you take some liquid into your mouth. Then you hold your head back and breathe out through the liquid at the back of your mouth. The liquid bubbles and makes a funny noise. After a few seconds, you spit out the liquid and then maybe you do it again. Gargling is a funny thing to do, but it often makes your throat feel better.
When my throat feels bad, my mom makes me gargle with very warm water and salt. |
| derivation: |
gargler (n.) |
Gargle comes from
gargouille, an early French word that means "throat."
Gargoyle comes from the same French word. The open mouths of gargoyles were often made into water spouts.