goth

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

An uncultivated person. One who is ignorant of the ways of society.

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 “goth” mean?

An uncultivated person. One who is ignorant of the ways of society.

Is “goth” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.