Gud"geon (gŭj"ŭn), n.
[OE. gojon, F. goujon, from L. gobio, or
gobius, Gr. kwbio`s Cf. 1st Goby. ]
1. (Zoöl.) A small European
freshwater fish (Gobio fluviatilis), allied to the carp. It is
easily caught and often used for food and for bait. In America the
killifishes or minnows are often called gudgeons.
2. What may be got without skill or
merit.
Fish not, with this melancholy bait,
For this fool gudgeon, this opinion.
Shak.
3. A person easily duped or cheated.
Swift.
4. (Mach.) The pin of iron fastened in
the end of a wooden shaft or axle, on which it turns; formerly, any
journal, or pivot, or bearing, as the pintle and eye of a hinge, but
esp. the end journal of a horizontal.
6. (Naut.) A metal eye or socket
attached to the sternpost to receive the pintle of the
rudder.
Ball gudgeon. See under
Ball.
Gud"geon, v. t. To deprive
fraudulently; to cheat; to dupe; to impose upon. [R.]
To be gudgeoned of the opportunities which had
been given you.
Sir IV. Scott.