goth

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A style of rock music, noted especially for somber or ethereal tones and lugubrious lyrics.
2. n. A performer or follower of this style of music.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. One of an ancient Teutonic race which appeared in the regions of the lower Danube in the third century a. d. A probable hypothesis identifies them with the Gothones or Guttones who dwelt near the Baltic; but there is little reason to believe in their relationship with the Getæ or in their Scandinavian origin. They made many inroads into different parts of the Roman empire in the third and fourth centuries, and gradually accepted the Arian form of Christianity. The two great historical divisions were the Visigoths (West Goths) and the Ostrogoths (East Goths). A body of Visigoths settled in the province of Mœsia (the present Servia and Bulgaria), and were hence called Mœsogoths; and their apostle Wulfila (Ulfilas) translated the Scriptures into Gothic. The Visigoths formed a monarchy about 418, which existed in southern France until 507 and in Spain until 711. An Ostrogothic kingdom existed in Italy and neighboring regions from 493 to 555. By extension the name was applied to various other tribes which invaded the Roman empire.
2. n. One who is rude or uncivilized; a barbarian; a rude, ignorant person; one defective in taste: from the character of the Goths during their early irruptions into Roman territory.
3. n. A ‘barbarian’ in matters of literature or art.

Wiktionary

1. n. uncountable A punk-derived subculture of people who predominately dress in black.
2. n. uncountable (music) A style of glam rock influenced punk rock; gothic rock.
3. n. countable A person who is part of the goth subculture.
4. adj. Relating to this music or these people.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Ethnol.) One of an ancient Teutonic race, who dwelt between the Elbe and the Vistula in the early part of the Christian era, and who overran and took an important part in subverting the Roman empire.
2. n. One who is rude or uncivilized; a barbarian; a rude, ignorant person.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. one of the Teutonic people who invaded the Roman Empire in the 3rd to 5th centuries
2. n. a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement