goddam
Goddam (noun) means a historical nickname the French applied to English soldiers or English people generally, said to come from the English habit of swearing "God damn" — first recorded around the Hundred Years' War. Example: “French chroniclers of the period sometimes referred to the English troops simply as goddams.”
How to use goddam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old, mocking French nickname for English people, based on their reputation for swearing "God damn."
Word forms
goddams plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
French chroniclers of the period sometimes referred to the English troops simply as _____.
Etymology
Borrowed back into French from the English oath "God damn," supposedly because English soldiers swore it so often that the French started using it as a label for them.
Frequently asked questions
What does “goddam” mean?
The word “goddam” means a historical nickname the French applied to English soldiers or English people generally, said to come from the English habit of swearing "God damn" — first recorded around the Hundred Years' War. In plain terms, an old, mocking French nickname for English people, based on their reputation for swearing "God damn.".
How do you use “goddam” in a sentence?
Here is “goddam” used in a sentence: “French chroniclers of the period sometimes referred to the English troops simply as goddams.”
What part of speech is “goddam”?
“Goddam” is a noun.
Where does the word “goddam” come from?
The word “goddam” comes from French. Borrowed back into French from the English oath "God damn," supposedly because English soldiers swore it so often that the French started using it as a label for them.