goom

A dialectal variant of gum.

goom (plural gooms)

1. (obsolete outside dialects) Alternative form of gum
   • 1738 November 24, Richard Kay, Diary:

     November 24. This Day I've spent some Time in my Closet, have been but ill to Day of Tumour in my Goom which is this Afternoon burst.

   • 1833, Asa Greene, The Life and Adventures of Dr. Dodimus Duckworth, volume 2, page 5:

     "I'm cutting the goom," replied the student.
     "You've got the wrong tooth," roared the man.

   • 1898, The Outlook, page 69:

     Oh, just put a little hunk on the ‘ goom ’ over the tooth. I s'pose it kind o' stim-a-lates it."

   • 1907, William Carew Hazlitt, English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases:

     Soon in the goom [gum], quick in the womb.

   • 1949, Cleone N. Collins, in an article published in Tic, the journal of the Ticonium Company:

     "And Doc will you take a look at my ‘goom’? I want my plates tight, so they won't drop or bob. Say Doc, will I be able to eat corn on the cob?"

   • 1973, Northwest dentistry, volume 52, page 94:

     Why didn't you just pull it? My goom still has a sore where you put that needle.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

goom (uncountable)

1. (especially Australia) methylated spirits.
   • 1988, Ruby Langford, Susan Hampton, Don't Take Your Love to Town, page 106:

     I rushed to see what was wrong and I could smell metho on his breath. 'Robbie, who gave you the goom?'

   • 1993, Mudrooroo, The aboriginal protestors confront the declaration of the Australian Republic, in The Mudrooroo/Müller Project: A Theatrical Casebook →ISBN, page 107

     THE BUREAUCRAT I didn't touch him; I didn't touch him. The goom's got him.

     BOB He doesn't drink, mate. His system's not up to it.

   • 2000, Herb Wharton, Unbranded, →ISBN:

     "No, don't bother, it's only a bottle of goom."

   • 2007, James Maxey, Bitterwood, →ISBN, page 181:

     He popped the cork to unleash the powerful, musk- sharp stench of goom, a powerful alcohol distilled from wild swamp cabbage and seasoned with cayenne. […] The goom spilled all over his torso. The burning sensation wasn't unpleasant.

   • 2009, Chloe Hooper, Tall Man: The Death of Doomadgee, →ISBN, page 200:

     Zillman: "And he also had some goom, didn't he?"

     Kidner: "Yeah, methylated spirits."

• Moog, gomo, mogo

From Middle Dutch gome, goom. Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *gaumaz, *gaumō (“attention”).

goom m (uncountable)

1. (archaic) attention

   Synonyms: aandacht, attentie

goom

1. Alternative form of gome (“man”)
   • a. 1450, Arthur (Marquis of Bath's MS):

     Kynges & Erles Echon. Þes were; & many anoþer goom

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

goom

1. Alternative form of gome (“regard”)