gullet

noun

gul·​let ˈgə-lət How to pronounce gullet (audio)
1
: esophagus
broadly : throat
2
: an invagination of the protoplasm in various protozoans (such as a paramecium) that sometimes functions in the intake of food
3
: the space between the tips of adjacent saw teeth

Examples of gullet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The coverage of him has often been over the top and forced down the gullets of sports fans. Zach Harper, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024 In one example, an individual bird was decapitated and had a corncob placed in its gullet. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 27 Nov. 2024 The majestic bird made Central Park an impromptu restaurant recently, settling in a grassy area to dine on its latest catch, which happened to be the rat stuffed in its gullet. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024 Eventually, a freaky, spider-like facehugger will hatch from an egg and, true to its name, latch onto a host’s face and force an embryo down their unwilling gullets. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gullet 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English golet, from Anglo-French, diminutive of gule throat, from Latin gula — more at glutton

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gullet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near gullet

Cite this Entry

“Gullet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gullet. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

gullet

noun
gul·​let ˈgəl-ət How to pronounce gullet (audio)
1
a
: the tube that leads from the back of the mouth to the stomach : esophagus
2
: a tubular structure of various protozoans (as a paramecium) that is used especially to take in food

Medical Definition

gullet

noun
gul·​let ˈgəl-ət How to pronounce gullet (audio)
1
: esophagus
broadly : throat
2
: an invagination of the protoplasm in various protozoans (as a paramecium) that sometimes functions in the intake of food
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