noun
gulliver
GUH-lih-vuh
Gulliver (noun) means slang for one's head, popularized by the novel and film "A Clockwork Orange.". Example: “In the Nadsat slang of "A Clockwork Orange," characters talk about getting hit on the gulliver.”
noun
1
Slang for one's head, popularized by the novel and film "A Clockwork Orange."
"In the Nadsat slang of "A Clockwork Orange," characters talk about getting hit on the gulliver."
2
The main character of Jonathan Swift's novel "Gulliver's Travels."
"Gulliver washes ashore in the land of tiny people called Lilliput."
How to use gulliver
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the fictional traveler Gulliver, or, in slang, a person's head.
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Word forms
- Plural
- gullivers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the Nadsat slang of "A Clockwork Orange," characters talk about getting hit on the _____.
Etymology
The slang sense comes from Russian golová ("head"), popularized through the invented Nadsat slang in Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel "A Clockwork Orange," with its spelling influenced by the name Gulliver.
Class of 1962
gulliver joined the language around 1962.
See the full Class of 1962 →
Rhymes for gulliver
See all rhymes for gulliver →Frequently asked questions
What does “gulliver” mean?
The word “gulliver” means slang for one's head, popularized by the novel and film "A Clockwork Orange.". In plain terms, either the fictional traveler Gulliver, or, in slang, a person's head.
How do you pronounce “gulliver”?
“Gulliver” is pronounced GUH-lih-vuh (/ˈɡʌlɪvə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “gulliver” in a sentence?
Here is “gulliver” used in a sentence: “In the Nadsat slang of "A Clockwork Orange," characters talk about getting hit on the gulliver.”
What part of speech is “gulliver”?
“Gulliver” is a noun.
Where does the word “gulliver” come from?
The word “gulliver” dates back to around 1962 and comes from Russian. The slang sense comes from Russian golová ("head"), popularized through the invented Nadsat slang in Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel "A Clockwork Orange," with its spelling influenced by the name Gulliver.
How many meanings does “gulliver” have?
“Gulliver” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: slang for one's head, popularized by the novel and film "A Clockwork Orange.".
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