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gus·set

(gŭsĭt)

1. A triangular insert, as in the seam of a garment, for added strength or expansion.

2. A triangular metal bracket used to strengthen a joist.

3. A piece of mail or plate armor protecting the joints in a suit of armor.

[Middle English, piece of mail protecting the armpit, from Old French gousset, from diminutive of gousse, pod of a legume, clove of garlic, probably from or akin to Old Provençcal gossa, feminine of gos, dog (for the semantic development, compare French caïeu, clove of garlic, ultimately from Latin catellus, puppy, and English pup, offset from a cactus or banana plant); akin to Catalan gus, Occitan guss guss, Spanish cuz, sounds made to call a dog.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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