n. & v.
--n.
1. a a chisel with a concave blade, used in carpentry, sculpture, and surgery. b an indentation or groove made with or as with this.
2 US colloq. a swindle.
--v.
1. tr. cut with or as with a gouge.
2 tr. a (foll. by out) force out (esp. an eye with the thumb) with or as with a gouge. b force out the eye of (a person).
3 tr. US colloq. swindle; extort money from.
4 intr. Austral. dig for opal.
Derivatives:
gouger n.
Etymology: F f. LL gubia, perh. of Celt. orig.