goth

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See also: Goth, goð, goþ, Goth., and góð

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
A goth (2008)
Japanese goth cosplay (2014)

Etymology

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From gothic rock, first used by John Stickney in reference to The Doors in 1967 and used by the late 1970s to describe the musical scene that gave rise to the goth subculture, both from a supposed aesthetic similarity to dark and moody 19th century gothic fiction and earlier gothic art and architecture, from Late Latin gothicus (“Gothic, barbaric”), from Ancient Greek Γοτθικός (Gotthikós), from Ancient Greek Γότθοι (Gótthoi, “Goths”) + -ικός (-ikós, “-ic”), proposed to derive from unattested Gothic *𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌰 (*guta).

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ɡɒθ/
  • (US, Canada) IPA(key): /ɡɑθ/
    • The US pronunciation is the same regardless of whether the speaker has the cot-caught merger, unlike other words in -oth.
  • Rhymes: -ɒθ
  • Audio (Canada):(file)

Noun

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goth (plural goths)

  1. (uncountable) A punk-derived subculture of people who predominantly dress in black, associated with mournful music and attitudes.
    • 2005, “Goth Girls”, in MC Frontalot (music), Nerdcore Rising‎[1]:
      I think that goth could flower in nerdcore's embrace.
      I converted Edward Gorey's lettering into a typeface,
      befriended vampires on LJ and MySpace,
      even put that spooky echo filter on the bass […]
    Philip has been into goth for many years, haven't you dear?
  2. (uncountable, music) A style of punk rock influenced by glam rock; gothic rock.
  3. (countable) A person who is part of the goth subculture.
    • 2006 Feb. 17, Graham Linehan, The IT Crowd, Season 1, Episode 4:
      And how come you never see goths driving cars?
      We drive cars... We're just like you really, except that we listen to Cradle of Filth.
    We saw a solitary goth hanging out on a ledge by the train station.
  4. Rare form of Goth.
    • 1786 April, “Account of the India Guide: or, A Journal of a Voyage to the East-Indies in the Year 1780. In a Poetical Epistle to her Mother. By Miss Emily Brittle. Printed at Calcutta in 1785.”, in Walker’s Hibernian Magazine: or, Compendium of Entertaining Knowledge, […], Dublin: […] Thomas Walker […], page 192, column 2:
      At Madras we arriv’d in the height of confuſion, / A ſcene all occaſion’d by Hyder’s intruſion; / A goth-like invader! who doth us all keep / Penn’d up in a fort, like a ſcar’d flock of ſheep; […]
    • 1809, an Englishman [pseudonym; Thomas Wilson], The Fortunate Departure; an Historical Account Dramatised, as Best Suited to Convey an Idea of the Horrid Excesses Committed by the French Army, on Their Irruption into Portugal; and the Fortunate Departure of the Prince Regent and Family, on the Eve of Their Entrance into Lisbon. […], London: […] Sherwood, Neely and Jones, […]; and J. Asperne, […], act III, scene i, page 41:
      By much, they are a horde of all nations, a goth-like banditti, savage and wild, whose numbers bid defiance to all around; […]
    • 1856, David MacGregor Peter, “Byrse of Hillhead”, in The Baronage of Angus and Mearns. Comprising the Genealogy of Three Hundred and Sixty Families—Curious Anecdotes—Descriptions of Clan Tartans, Badges, Slogans, Armory, and Seats—Ancient Sculptures, &c. […], Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, […]; Montrose: Alex[ander] Rodgers, […], page 34:
      In 1843, in the course of agricultural improvements, Mr. Byrse committed a very goth-like deed, to wit, blasting with gunpowder two excellent specimens of clachchriothir, or rocking-stones—and building the remains into dikes!

Derived terms

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Translations

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Adjective

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goth (comparative gother, superlative gothest)

  1. Relating to goth music or people.
    With her black clothes and dyed hair, Melanie looked very goth compared to her classmates.
    • 2014, Michelle Madow, The Secret Diamond Sisters, page 39:
      One of them looked like a total freak who had come straight off a Cirque du Soleil stage, with blue streaks in her hair, goth bracelets up her arm and so much black eyeliner that she could be on the set of Cleopatra.

Translations

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See also

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Middle English

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Etymology 1

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Alternative forms

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Verb

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goth

  1. third-person singular present indicative of gon

Etymology 2

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Noun

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goth

  1. Alternative form of goot
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