v. & n.
v. 1 tr. (also absol.) wash (one's mouth and throat), esp. for medicinal purposes, with a liquid kept in motion by breathing through it. 2 intr. make a sound as when doing this.
n. 1 a liquid used for gargling. 2 sl. an alcoholic drink.
[ F gargouiller f. gargouille: see GARGOYLE ]