— Gorgonian /gawr goh"nee euhn/ , adj.
/gawr"geuhn/ , n.
1. Class. Myth. any of three sister monsters commonly represented as having snakes for hair, wings, brazen claws, and eyes that turned anyone looking into them to stone. Medusa, the only mortal Gorgon, was beheaded by Perseus.
2. ( l.c. ) a mean, ugly, or repulsive woman.
[ 1350-1400; ME Gorgon Gorgó, der. of gorgós dreadful ]