subs. (old).—1. A bait; an allurement. Hence, TO GUDGEON (or TO SWALLOW A GUDGEON) = to be extremely credulous or gullible.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice, i. 1.
| But fish not with this melancholy bait, | |
| For this fool’s GUDGEON, this opinion. |
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Bersela, s.v. To swallow a GUDGEON … to believe any tale.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. GUDGEON. One easily imposed on. TO GUDGEON; to swallow the bait, or fall into a trap: from the fish of that name, which is easily taken.
1892. National Observer, 23 July, vii., 235. It has educated Hodge into an increased readiness to gorge any GUDGEON that may be offered him.
2. (colloquial).—An easy dupe; a BUFFLE (q.v.).
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
