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Gutter vs Gully - What's the difference?

gutter | gully |

In transitive terms the difference between gutter and gully

is that gutter is to cut or form into small longitudinal hollows; to channel while gully is to wear away into a gully or gullies.

As nouns the difference between gutter and gully

is that gutter is a prepared channel in a surface, especially at the side of a road adjacent to a curb, intended for the drainage of water while gully is a trench, ravine or narrow channel which was worn by water flow, especially on a hillside.

As verbs the difference between gutter and gully

is that gutter is to flow or stream; to form gutters while gully is to flow noisily.

gutter

English

(Street gutter)

Etymology 1

(etyl) gotere, from (etyl) goutiere (French

Noun

(en noun)
  • A prepared channel in a surface, especially at the side of a road adjacent to a curb, intended for the drainage of water.
  • *
  • A ditch along the side of a road.
  • *
  • *
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  • A duct or channel beneath the eaves of a building to carry rain water; eavestrough.
    • The gutters must be cleared of leaves a few times a year.
  • A groove down the sides of a bowling lane.
  • A large groove (commonly behind animals) in a barn used for the collection and removal of animal excrement.
  • Any narrow channel or groove, such as one formed by erosion in the vent of a gun from repeated firing.
  • A space between printed columns of text.
  • (philately) An unprinted space between rows of stamps.
  • (British) A drainage channel.
  • The notional locus of things, acts, or events which are distasteful, ill bred or morally questionable.
  • (figuratively) A low, vulgar state.
    • Get your mind out of the gutter .
    What kind of gutter language is that? I ought to wash your mouth out with soap.
    Derived terms
    * gutter ball, gutterball * gutter member * guttermouth * gutter plane * guttersnipe * gutter stick
    See also
    (pedia) * gout

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To flow or stream; to form gutters.
  • (of a candle) To melt away by having the molten wax run down along the side of the candle.
  • (of a small flame) To flicker as if about to be extinguished.
  • To send (a bowling ball) into the gutter, not hitting any pins.
  • To supply with a gutter or gutters.
    • (Dryden)
  • To cut or form into small longitudinal hollows; to channel.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who or that which guts.
  • * 1921 , Bernie Babcock, The Coming of the King (page 151)
    • A Galilean Rabbi? When did this Province of diggers in dirt and gutters of fish send forth Rabbis? Thou makest a jest.
  • * 2013 , Don Keith, ?Shelley Stewart, Mattie C.'s Boy: The Shelley Stewart Story (page 34)
    • An old, rusty coat hanger made a rudimentary fish-gutter .
    ----

    gully

    English

    Alternative forms

    * gulley (Etymology 1)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) golet, from (etyl) goulet, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (wikipedia gully) (gullies)
  • A trench, ravine or narrow channel which was worn by water flow, especially on a hillside.
  • A small valley.
  • (UK) A drop kerb.
  • A road drain.
  • (cricket) A fielding position on the off side about 30 degrees behind square, between the slips and point; a fielder in such a position
  • (UK) A grooved iron rail or tram plate.
    • Related terms
    * gullet * gully gut * gully hole

    Verb

  • (obsolete) To flow noisily.
    • (Johnson)
  • To wear away into a gully or gullies.

    • Etymology 2

    Scots , of unknown origin.

    Noun

    (gullies)
  • (Scotland, northern UK) A large knife.
  • * 1883 , , page 139:
    • With that I made my mind up, took out my gully , opened it with my teeth, and cut one strand after another...
    References
    Gullies And Other Knives ----