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Goozle Play audio

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "goozle" means the throat or windpipe - especially the soft, vulnerable spot just above the chest. It’s a colorful old-time word still used in country talk and storytelling.

#SouthernWords   #Appalachia   #Cooking   #Southern

Pronunciation

[GOO-zul] or [GUH-zul] depending on the speaker

Meaning & Usage

- The throat or windpipe (noun)

Play fight
Mae:
He hollered when you poked him.

Earl:
Yeah - caught him in the goozle.

variations: throat, gullet, Adam’s apple, windpipe
★ "Goozle" is a long-standing Southern/Appalachian word for the throat, especially the tender spot where a person can’t stand to be grabbed or hit. It’s vivid and instantly conjures a mental image. ★

Origin and Etymology

Chiefly found in the South and South Midland, this term has been recorded since the late 19th century in dialect stories and rural newspapers. It’s likely a playful alteration of "guzzle" or related to "gozzle" (an old dialect word for throat).

Usage Notes

Still heard today among older Southerners, in humorous scoldings, or as a vivid way to describe a blow to the neck. Outside the region it’s rare and often unknown.

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Say it quick and folksy: "goozle." It rhymes loosely with "nozzle."

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Does "goozle" only mean the throat?
Yes - it’s a folksy term for the throat, gullet, or windpipe.
Do people still say it today?
Yes - mostly in Southern/Appalachian storytelling, though younger speakers may not know it.
Is "goozle" a slur?
No - it’s a harmless dialect word, just colorful and old-fashioned.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 20). Goozle. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/goozle
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Goozle." HillbillySlang.com, 20 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/goozle.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Goozle." HillbillySlang.com. September 20, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/goozle.
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