Gutter: Difference between revisions
FunnyMan3595 (talk | contribs) Get your mind out of the gutter! |
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The word ''''gutter'''' refers to a long, thin trough, usually one that runs straight. |
The word ''''gutter'''' refers to a long, thin trough, usually one that runs straight. |
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One type of gutter is a '''rain gutter''', which serves to collect [[rain]] and run it down to the ground or some despository so that it doesn't drip off the edges of a roof. A similar sort, also called a 'ditch', is that that runs along a [[road|street or road]] and carries away water from the thoroughfare into a [[sewer]]. The popular image of a drunk lying in such a trench gave rise to the [[adjective]] 'gutter', meaning '[[vulgar]]'. Related to this popular usage are the [[idiom]]s 'to be in the gutter', meaning 'to be down on one's [[luck]]' and 'mind in the gutter', meaning 'having vulgar thoughts'. |
One type of gutter is a '''rain gutter''', which serves to collect [[rain]] and run it down to the ground or some despository so that it doesn't drip off the edges of a roof. A similar sort, also called a 'ditch', is that that runs along a [[road|street or road]] and carries away water from the thoroughfare into a [[sewer]]. The popular image of a drunk lying in such a trench gave rise to the [[adjective]] 'gutter', meaning '[[vulgar]]'. Related to this popular usage are the [[idiom]]s 'to be in the gutter', meaning 'to be down on one's [[luck]]' and 'having one's mind in the gutter', meaning 'having vulgar thoughts'. |
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Another type of gutter is found in [[bowling]]. There are, on either side of a lane, long grooves (called, of course, gutters) which are slightly wider than a bowling ball, and a ball can easily roll into them. If it does, the ball cannot strike any pins, and the player receives no points for that throw. |
Another type of gutter is found in [[bowling]]. There are, on either side of a lane, long grooves (called, of course, gutters) which are slightly wider than a bowling ball, and a ball can easily roll into them. If it does, the ball cannot strike any pins, and the player receives no points for that throw. |
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Revision as of 05:42, 15 April 2004
The word 'gutter' refers to a long, thin trough, usually one that runs straight.
One type of gutter is a rain gutter, which serves to collect rain and run it down to the ground or some despository so that it doesn't drip off the edges of a roof. A similar sort, also called a 'ditch', is that that runs along a street or road and carries away water from the thoroughfare into a sewer. The popular image of a drunk lying in such a trench gave rise to the adjective 'gutter', meaning 'vulgar'. Related to this popular usage are the idioms 'to be in the gutter', meaning 'to be down on one's luck' and 'having one's mind in the gutter', meaning 'having vulgar thoughts'.
Another type of gutter is found in bowling. There are, on either side of a lane, long grooves (called, of course, gutters) which are slightly wider than a bowling ball, and a ball can easily roll into them. If it does, the ball cannot strike any pins, and the player receives no points for that throw.
A third use of 'gutter' is that used in typography, describing the space between columns of printed text. This has been adapted into comics jargon to describe the narrow spaces between panels.