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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 notes

In plain EnglishEither the fictional traveler Gulliver, or, in slang, a person's head.

Word forms

gullivers plural, Gullivers plural

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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.

Origin: Russian · First attested 1962

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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