Etymology
Advertisement

Godiva

Lady of Coventry (died 1067) and wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. Her legend is first recorded by Roger of Wendover 100 years after her death. The "Peeping Tom" aspect was added by 1659. The name is a typical Anglo-Saxon compound, apparently *God-gifu "good gift."

Entries linking to Godiva

peep (v.1)

"to glance, look from a state of concealment" (especially through or as through a small or narrow opening), mid-15c., pepen, perhaps an alteration of Middle English piken (see peek (v.)). Hence, "to come partially into view, begin to appear" (1530s). Peeping Tom "a curious prying fellow" [Grose] is from 1796 (see Godiva).

updated on October 10, 2017

Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of Godiva from WordNet

Godiva (n.)
according to legend she rode naked through Coventry in order to persuade her husband not to tax the townspeople so heavily; the only person to look at her as she rode by was a man named Tom and Peeping Tom has become a synonym for voyeur (circa 1040-1080);
Synonyms: Lady Godiva
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near Godiva

God-fearing

godforsaken

Godfrey

godhead

Godism

Godiva

godless

godlike

godliness

godly

godmother

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper