Gentles Meaning in English
word · lemma: gentle
Definition
“Gentles” most commonly refers to maggots used as bait for fishing. It can also be an old-fashioned or archaic term for polite or noble people.
Usage & Nuances
Modern use refers almost exclusively to fishing bait (maggots). Older literary or Shakespearean English uses “gentles” to address noble or polite people, but this is now rare and sounds archaic. The plural is not used to describe 'gentle' things generally.
Example Sentences
Fishermen often use gentles as bait to catch fish.
basic
I bought a box of gentles from the bait shop before fishing.
basic
The gentles wriggled inside the container.
basic
Some anglers swear that red gentles attract more fish than white ones.
natural
You don't see many actors addressing the audience as 'good gentles' these days—it's very Shakespearean.
natural
If you run out of worms, you can always use gentles for bait instead.
natural