Arts >> Books >> Literature

What did gorbellied mean when shakespeare used it in plays?

The word "gorbellied" was used by Shakespeare in his plays to describe someone who has a large or protruding belly. It is often used in a derogatory or humorous way, and can be seen as a form of body shaming. In some cases, it may also be used to suggest that someone is greedy or gluttonous.

Here are some examples of how Shakespeare used the word "gorbellied" in his plays:

* In "Henry IV, Part 1", Falstaff is described as "that gorbellied knave" by Prince Hal.

* In "The Merry Wives of Windsor", Sir John Falstaff is again referred to as "a gorbellied knave" by Mistress Page.

* In "Twelfth Night", Sir Andrew Aguecheek is described as "that gorbellied boy" by Sir Toby Belch.

In each of these cases, the word "gorbellied" is used in a negative way to describe someone who is overweight or gluttonous. It is important to note that this word is no longer considered acceptable to use in modern English, and is generally seen as offensive.

Literature

Related Categories