WordGarden.iogullet
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡˈʌlɪt/
US
- /ˈɡələt/
Meanings
Noun
the tube from the mouth or throat to the stomach
a feeding groove or opening in some protozoans
the space between adjacent saw teeth
Beyond the definition
Imagine swallowing your favorite treat: this is the part inside your throat that carries food and drink down toward your stomach. "Gullet" is a common everyday word for the throat or the food tube, especially when talking about swallowing or something getting stuck. We do not think about it much, but it works every time we eat or drink. If something blocks it, swallowing can quickly become very unpleasant.
The word "gullet" usually refers to the throat or the tube that carries food from the mouth down toward the stomach. In everyday use, people often use it for the swallowing passage, and in that sense it overlaps closely with esophagus. It is the part that food and liquid pass through after you swallow.
The term "gullet" often sounds more vivid, informal, or old-fashioned than "esophagus." You might see it in stories, in older writing, or in descriptions of choking and swallowing, such as when a piece of food gets stuck in someone's gullet. It can also be used in a figurative way for something that is hard to accept, as if it cannot be swallowed easily.
Historically, the word comes through Old French and has long been linked with the idea of the throat or neck. Over time, it became a natural word for the narrow passage used in swallowing.
While doctors usually prefer "esophagus" in medical contexts, "gullet" remains a clear and natural English word in everyday speech. So, the next time you enjoy a meal, you can picture that hardworking passage guiding everything safely down.
Examples
- 1
Medical problem
A fish bone got stuck in his gullet, and he had to go to the doctor.
- Usagegullet
throat or the tube food goes down; it is a bit literary
- 2
Animal feeding
The snake opened its jaws and swallowed the mouse straight down its gullet.
- 3
Rough humor
He poured the rest of the beer down his gullet and laughed.
- Phrasedown someone's gullet
into their mouth and throat, often roughly or humorously
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- gulletnoun
Forms
- gulletspluralnoun