313: gut and gutter Oct 17, 2015

Usually when words have the '-er' suffix, it is because that is a derivative. This is not the case in 'gutter', which comes from Middle English, originally meaning ‘cut grooves in’ and later, it was used to describe a candle that melts rapidly because it becomes channeled and rigid on one side. 'Gut' on the other hand, comes from the Old English 'guttas' which was most likely related to 'gēotan' meaning ‘pour’.