3 ms·
Archaic spelling of "jail". Read it with a soft g and a long a and it makes a little more sense. There's also the derivative "gaoler". (American here, but th
by a_e_k 2y ago
Archaic spelling of "jail". Read it with a soft g and a long a and it makes a little more sense. There's also the derivative "gaoler".
(American here, but that's one I've come across before.)
- jimkleiber 2y agoMy goodness, I never would have guessed. Thank you for sharing. Also, if gaol can have a soft g, then so can gif? :-)
- another-dave 2y agoLots of soft Gs around, like gentleman… though Gif isn't one of them!! :)
- DHPersonal 2y agoYes, but like a lot of minor regional spelling or pronunciation differences, some people say it with a hard g. It may be the improper pronunciation when compared to the origin, but that’s how words work, grating as it may be to our enlightened sensibilities.