gobshite--prophetes.ai

  gobshite, n. slang.
  Brit. /ˈgɒbʃʌɪt/, U.S. /ˈgɑbˌʃaɪt/
  Forms: 19– gobshite, 19– gobshyte
  [Probably <gob n.² + shite, regional and colloquial variant of shit n., thus presumably with an original sense ‘spittle’ (compare gob v.³). With sense 1 compare earlier gobby n., and also gob n.⁵
  J. E. Lighter (Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1994) I. 913/1) records also a sense ‘an expectorated wad of chewing tobacco’, supported by the following comment from an unpublished source of 1918, taking this to be in fact the earliest sense:

1918 in J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1994) I. 913/1 Gob, sailor. Derived from the term ‘gob-shite’ or excretion from chewing tobacco.

Sense 2 may perhaps be of independent origin, or show assimilation of an originally distinct word (it could even be historically earlier than sense 1, although not recorded until later). B. Share Slanguage (1997) 113/1 compares Irish English gobshell, recorded in 1910 in the sense ‘a gobbet of spittle’, and probably of Irish origin (compare Irish gob beak, bill, also in extended uses (see gob n.²), seile saliva).No corroborating evidence has been found for the theory given in quot. 1929 1, or for a derivation from a supposed nickname Gobshike (taken to be > n.)) given in L. E. Ruggles Navy Explained (1918) 10–1.]
1. U.S. Navy. An enlisted seaman; = gob n.⁵ Now rare.

1910 Our Navy Jan. 20/1 It came to pass, a charming lass, Sat bravely down and wrote A young ‘Gob-shyte’ she met one night, A cunning little note. 1910 Our Navy Mar. 21/1 You can imagine all the feelin's In a foolish ‘gobshite's’ breast. 1914 Dial. Notes 4 150 Gob, a bluejacket. Also gobshite. 1929E. J. McCartney in Papers Michigan Acad. Sci. Arts & Lett. 10 295/2 A newspaper clipping says that the name originated at the time of Perry's expedition to Asia, when the Orientals called the American sailors ‘gobshites’.

2. Chiefly Irish English. derogatory A stupid, incompetent, or gullible person; a person who talks nonsense or talks incessantly; a loudmouth.

1948 E. Partridge Dict. Forces' Slang 84 Gobshite, a fool, easily taken in. 1973‘H. Leonard’ Da in Plays & Players Dec. p. xv/1 Hey God, there's an old gobshite at the tradesmen's entrance. 1977 J. P. Donleavy Destinies Darcy Dancer, Gentleman xii. 168 We may be a country deprived of its totality by the British but it is them Irish gobshites as come in from the country and stand around in their bad taste..that we should be deprived of. 1986 J. Hockey Squaddies vii. 102 Here they're O.K. really, they've toned down a lot. Sergeant—— was a regular gobshite always shouting at you in barracks. 1992 Face June 13 He's an uneducated gobshite. I could do his job any time but he couldn't do mine. 1999 Melody Maker 27 Oct. 53/1 Chat from the legendary Scouse gobshite.