Present participle of gobble; eating food quickly and greedily, or making the characteristic sound of a male turkey. Suggests rapid, voracious consumption or the distinctive call of turkeys.
Imitative word from the 16th century, mimicking either the sound of rapid eating or the turkey's call. The eating sense may come from the resemblance between hasty eating sounds and turkey calls, or from the bird's own rapid pecking behavior.
Turkeys 'gobble' to attract mates and establish territory - the louder and more impressive the gobble, the more successful the male! When humans 'gobble' food, we're unconsciously mimicking this rapid, enthusiastic consumption pattern.
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