sigogglin
English
Etymology
Apparently from side + goggling, from goggle (“to stare at with wide eyes”), indicating that something had to be stared at sideways to appear straight. Compare antigoglin.[1]
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈsaɪ̯.ɡɒɡ.lɪn/
Adjective
sigogglin (comparative more sigogglin, superlative most sigogglin)
- (US, Appalachia, dated) Not built correctly; crooked, skewed, or out of balance.
References
- William Safire, Let a Simile be Your Umbrella (2001, →ISBN: "The older sense of gogglin' refers to eyes that squint; people who squint don't see things straight. They get things crooked, or antigogglin'."
Further reading
- Drye, Willie (May 2, 2005), “Appalachians Are Finding Pride in Mountain Twang”, in National Geographic News, retrieved 2009-10-06