online medical dictionary | definition of glutton

1. One who eats voraciously, or to excess; a gormandizer.

2. One who gluts himself. "Gluttons in murder, wanton to destroy." (Granville)

3. <zoology> A carnivorous mammal (Gulo luscus), of the family Mustelidae, about the size of a large badger. It was formerly believed to be inordinately voracious, whence the name; the wolverene. It is a native of the northern parts of America, Europe, and Asia.

<zoology> Glutton bird, the giant fulmar (Ossifraga gigantea).

Synonyms: Mother Carey's goose, and mollymawk.

Origin: OE. Glotoun, glotun, F. Glouton, fr. L. Gluto, glutto. See Glut.

(01 Mar 1998)