# gutter

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡʌt.ə/ · frequency rank #17,624

## Definitions
1. A prepared channel in a surface, especially at the side of a road adjacent to a curb, intended for the drainage of water.
2. A ditch along the side of a road.
3. A duct or channel beneath the eaves of a building to carry rain water; eavestrough.
4. A groove down the sides of a bowling lane.
5. A large groove (commonly behind animals) in a barn used for the collection and removal of animal excrement.
6. Any narrow channel or groove, such as one formed by erosion in the vent of a gun from repeated firing.
7. A space between printed columns of text.
8. One of a number of pieces of wood or metal, grooved in the centre, used to separate the pages of type in a form.
9. An unprinted space between rows of stamps.
10. A drainage channel.
11. The notional locus of things, acts, or events that are distasteful, ill-bred, or morally questionable.
12. A low, vulgar state.
13. A space between comic strip panels.

## Etymology
From Middle English gutter, guttur, goter, from Anglo-Norman guttere, from Old French goutiere (French gouttière), ultimately from Latin gutta (“drop”).

## Easily confused with
- **guitar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/guitar-vs-gutter)
- **gotten** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gotten-vs-gutter)
- **gather** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gather-vs-gutter)
- **gutted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gutted-vs-gutter)
- **Gunner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gunner-vs-gutter)
- **garter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/garter-vs-gutter)
- **getter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/getter-vs-gutter)
- **Gunter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gunter-vs-gutter)
- **glitter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/glitter-vs-gutter)
- **Gunther** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gunther-vs-gutter)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ggutter`, `gtuter`, `guter`, `gutetr`, `gutterr`, `guttre`, `ugtter`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/gutter