I. ˈgə-tər noun
Etymology: Middle English goter, from Anglo-French gutere, goter, from gute drop, from Latin gutta
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a trough along the eaves to catch and carry off rainwater
b. : a low area (as at the edge of a street) to carry off surface water (as to a sewer)
c. : a trough or groove to catch and direct something
the gutter s of a bowling alley
2. : a white space formed by the adjoining inside margins of two facing pages (as of a book)
3. : the lowest or most vulgar level or condition of human life
II. verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to cut or wear gutters in
2. : to provide with a gutter
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to flow in rivulets
b. of a candle : to melt away through a channel out of the side of the cup hollowed out by the burning wick
2. : to incline downward in a draft
the candle flame gutter ing
III. adjective
Date: 15th century
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the gutter ; especially : marked by extreme vulgarity, cheapness, or indecency
gutter politics