Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A boy; a male servant.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Ireland A boy; a servant.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Ireland A young boy, a servant boy; a lackey.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Alteration of garsún, ultimately from Old French garçun.

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Examples

  • Three times a week a "gossoon" ran with the post to Oughterard, thirty-six miles away, where the nearest coach passed.

    Maria Edgeworth 1905

  • 'I mourn the earth-worms, the cacti, and the tireless "gossoon,"' added

    Shawl-Straps A Second Series of Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag Louisa May Alcott 1860

  • You don't want Da to think you're what he calls a “namby-pamby gossoon,” do you?

    Bedwetter James Claffey 2012

  • Rackrent was not expected to live over night; so Jason thought it high time to he moving to the Lodge, to make his bargain with my master about the jointure afore it should be too late, and afore the little gossoon should reach us with the news.

    Castle Rackrent 2006

  • The Editor has known a gossoon to go on foot, without shoes or stockings, fifty-one

    Castle Rackrent 2006

  • In most Irish families there used to be a barefooted gossoon, who was slave to the cook and the butler, and who, in fact, without wages, did all the hard work of the house.

    Castle Rackrent 2006

  • On this occasion the Caleb Balderston of her house came in, making stately bows to his mistress, and with low voice, and eyes wide open, told her what a gossoon running over from

    Castle Richmond 2004

  • First came a bacah on crutches; then came a woman with a white swelling; then came an individual who had nothing at all the matter with him, and was only a poor unfortunate, wandering about the world; then came a far cake, 22 a dark man, who was led about by a gossoon; after him a simpley, and after the simpleton somebody else as much or more unfortunate.

    Wild Wales : Its People, Language and Scenery 2004

  • I was a strapping young gossoon at that time, I tell you.

    Ulysses 2003

  • My master gave me no orders to prevint any person from seeing the black spalpeen; and as a goold yankee sovereign can't be picked up every day in the street, faith it's yerself Dennis Macarty, that will take the responsibility, and let this good-looking gossoon in to see black Nero, and bad luck to him! '

    City Crimes or Life in New York and Boston George Thompson

Comments

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  • Spurned lover. I was a strapping young gossoon at that time, I tell you, I'll show you my likeness one day.

    Joyce, Ulysses, 3

    December 30, 2006

  • A lad; a young male servant. According to Foyle, the word is derived from French garçon.

    July 31, 2008

  • The minstrels provided the tune

    With jokes from the royal buffoon,

    But the work of the fest

    Beyond music and jest

    Was done by the weary gossoon.

    April 24, 2015