French gout
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Syphilis.
Register: archaic, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
a certain disease, which is also known as "ladies’ fever."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “French gout” mean?
Syphilis.
Is “French gout” formal or informal?
French gout is generally archaic, slang.