# goo-goo
## English
### Etymology 1

A variety of origins have been proposed:
* Perhaps from a Philippine word imitative of babbling,
* Possibly from Tagalog gugus (“tutelary spirit”).
* Perhaps from gago (“idiot”).
* Possibly influenced by goo-goo eyes, which "was in vogue c. 1900 and may have contributed to this somehow" since early uses of goo-goo and gook refer specifically to prostitutes who followed army camps.
Adopted as an ethnic slur by American troops during the Filipino-American War. Gook seems to be a later shortening; see that entry for more.

#### Alternative forms

* gugu

#### Noun

goo-goo (plural goo-goos)
* (derogatory) A Philippine person.

### Etymology 2

From good government. Attested from the 1890s.

#### Alternative forms

* Goo-Goo

#### Noun

goo-goo (plural goo-goos)
* (US, politics, derogatory) A government reformer.
** 1912 December 4, “Voters, Aroused, Rout Goo-Goo Gangsters”, in Los Angeles Times‎, archived from the original on 30 June 2013:Stinging Rebuke Administered to Bald Attempt to Grab City; Goo-Goo Clique Swept Off Their Feet by Landslide Against Municipal Freak
** 1993 December 7, Mike Royko, “Pass the pablums, it's goo-goo time”, in Chicago Tribune‎, archived from the original on 30 June 2013, page 13:Some goo-goos are so relentless in their pursuit of goo-gooism that they become a public menace.

##### See also

* do-gooder

### Etymology 3

Uncertain; perhaps from goggle. Attested from 1900.

#### Adjective

goo-goo (comparative more goo-goo, superlative most goo-goo)
* (slang, usually of the eyes) Amorous, affectionate.
** 1900, “Just Because She Made Dem Goo-goo Eyes”, John Queen (lyrics), Hughley Cannon (music):I wants to ask one question now, please let me call you dear, It cost a lot to gain a rep. But I’ll blow the road right here, if you’ll be mine, if you’ll be mine, Just because you makes them goo-goo eyes
** 2011, Carolyn Moring Lowes, Awakening Avery‎, page 2:I have to admit he is really easy on the eyes, but I don’t go all goo-goo over him every time he’s near like most of the girls in class.
** 2012, Mitchel P. Roth, Tom Kennedy, Houston Blue: The Story of the Houston Police Department‎, page 52:A Ordinance to Suppress Flirting, aka “Goo-Goo Eyes” (1905) The so-called “Goo-Goo Eyes” ordinance prescribed penalties for men who made “goo-goo eyes at, or in any other manner look at or make remarks to or concerning, or cough or whistle at, or do any other act to attract the attention of any woman.”

##### Derived terms

* goo-goo eyes

### Etymology 4
#### Interjection

goo-goo
* (onomatopoeia) The noise of a baby trying to imitate speech.

##### Derived terms

* goo goo ga ga

##### Translations
### References

* Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “goo-goo”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
* 1 2 Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “gook”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
* ↑ Luis H. Francia (2013 September 18) History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos, Abrams, →ISBN: “googoo: An earlier version of gook, and a corruption of the Tagalog gago, meaning idiot or simpleton; used by U.S. soldiers during the 1899 Philippine-American War to denigrate Filipinos.”
* ↑ David R. Roediger (1994 March 17) Towards the Abolition of Whiteness: Essays on Race, Politics, and Working Class History, Verso, →ISBN, pages 117–119

### See also

* goo goo ga ga