I'm the gubbin

gubbins, n. pl.

Also gubbings. Rarely sing. [var. of GOBBON.]

1. Fragments, esp. of fish; fish-parings. In later use (also const. sing.), trash; anything of little value; a gadget, thingummy. In sing., a fragment. Also fig. and attrib.


1553 Respublica I. i. 40 in Brandl Dramas (1898) 286 The skimmynges, the gubbins of booties and praies. 1599 NASHE Lenten Stuffe 73 Hough you hungerstarued gubbins, or offalles of men, how thriue you?


2. a. A contemptuous name formerly given to the inhabitants of a district near Brent Tor on the edge of Dartmoor, who are said to have been absolute savages. Obs. exc. Hist.


b. colloq. A fool, a duffer.


1916 E. F. BENSON David Blaize vii. 124 â€Â˜Silly gubbins,’ she said. 1955 â€Â˜E. C. R. LORAC’ Ask a Policeman ii. 25 If we only get these old gubbinses out I could let the rooms proper. 1957 [see BATTER n.⁴].


Entry printed from Oxford English Dictionary Online
SECOND EDITION 1989
© Oxford University Press 2005