Gargle
/ˈɡɑːr.ɡəl/noun
To wash or rinse the throat and mouth with a liquid that is swirled around and then expelled.
Did you know?The word 'gargle' is linked to the Latin 'gurgulio', meaning 'throat', but it also evokes the sound of water in a ritualistic context, suggesting purification and vocal power.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
gurgulio
“Throat, the sound of liquid moving through it.”
Middle French
Old French
gargouiller
“To bubble or make a gurgling sound.”
16th Century
English
gargle
“To wash out the mouth or throat with a liquid.”
19th Century
English
gargling
“The act of creating a bubbling sound while rinsing the throat.”
Explore more surprising origins