Gook vs Goo - What's the difference?
gook | goo | Synonyms |
(slang, vulgar, pejorative, offensive, ethnic slur) A person from the Far East, Oceania or Southeast Asia, in particular a Vietnamese, Filipino, Chinese, Korean person.
(informal) Grime or mud.
* {{quote-book, 1983, Len O'Connor, A Reporter in Sweet Chicago, isbn=0809276488
, passage="Roost No More" was a yellow gook that Joe's people would spread around, for a fee, on the ledges of houses and commercial buildings plagued by pigeons.}}
(uncountable, informal) Any semi-solid or liquid substance; especially one that is sticky, gummy or slippery; frequently of vague or unknown composition, or a bodily fluid.
Excessive, showy sentimentality
To apply goo to something.
Goo is a synonym of gook.
As nouns the difference between gook and goo
is that gook is a person from the Far East, Oceania or Southeast Asia, in particular a Vietnamese, Filipino, Chinese, Korean person while goo is any semi-solid or liquid substance; especially one that is sticky, gummy or slippery; frequently of vague or unknown composition, or a bodily fluid.As a verb goo is
to apply goo to something.gook
English
Etymology 1
Use traced to U.S. Marines in Philippines in early 20th century.Dictionary.com]Pearson, Kim, "[http://kpearson.faculty.tcnj.edu/Dictionary/gook.htm Gook". Earliest recorded example is dated 1920.Seligman, Herbert J., "
The Conquest of Haiti", The Nation, July 10, 1920. * Folk etymology suggests that during the Korean War, young Korean children would point at U.S. soldiers and shout ", guk) itself simply means "country". This explanation ignores the fact that there are many examples of the word's use that pre-date the Korean War.
Noun
(en noun)Usage notes
* In the US, gook refers particularly to a Vietnamese person in the context of the Vietnam War, and particularly to the Viet Cong. It is generally considered highly offensive, on a par with nigger.Etymology 2
Possible blend of goop and gunk.Noun
(en noun)citation
Derived terms
* gooky * gook upSee also
* gook wagongoo
English
Etymology 1
American English, known since 1903, probably from (1787), possibly an alteration of glue.Noun
(-)- ''I stepped in some goo and had a terrible time getting the sticky stuff off my shoes.
- ''When dad couldn't stand the goo anymore, he stopped Tommy's tearful goodbye from the Swedish au-pair Matts, firmly smacking the boys' pants and grumbling "Now stop the goo or I'll give each of you a reason to cry!"
Derived terms
* from goo to you by way of the zoo * gooey * gooeynessSynonyms
* gloop * glop * gook * goop * gunge * gunk * gum * muck * ooze * paste * slop * sludgeVerb
(en verb)- ''They gooed their hair with some fragrant styling product.
