gibbous
|gib-bous|
/ˈɡɪbəs/
humped; bulging
Etymology
'gibbous' originates from Latin, specifically the Late Latin word 'gibbosus', where 'gibbus' meant 'hump' or 'protuberance'.
'gibbous' changed from the Late Latin adjective 'gibbosus' and entered English usage (via Medieval/Modern Latin and occasional Old French mediation) to become the modern English word 'gibbous'.
Initially, it meant 'humped' or 'having a hump', but over time it came to be used especially for the moon to mean 'more than half illuminated but not full' while retaining the older sense of 'bulging' or 'protuberant' in some contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state or quality of being gibbous; a gibbous moon or protuberance (noun form derived from the adjective).
Observers noted the gibbosity of the moon during the telescope session.
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Adjective 1
describing the moon when it is more than half illuminated but not yet full; having a swollen or convex shape (astronomical usage).
Last night the moon was gibbous and lit the fields.
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Adjective 2
humpbacked or having a hump; protuberant (archaic or descriptive, used in anatomy or description).
The statue had a gibbous profile that suggested age and hardship.
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Last updated: 2025/09/05 03:00