1596. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, v. This is a mere trick, a device, you are gulled in this most grossly.
1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, ii., 3. Mar. For Monsieur Maluolio, let me alone with him; If I do not gull him into a nayword, and make him a common recreation, do not thinke I haue witte enough to lye straight in my bed; I know I can do it.
1607. Rowlands, Diogenes, his Lanthorne, p. 11 (H. C. Rept. 1873). He promist me good stuffe truly, a great pennyworth indeed, and verily did gull me.
1610. Jonson, Alchemist, v., 2. Hast thou gulled her of her jewels or her bracelets?
1639. Selden, Table Talk, p. 98 (Arber’s ed.). Presbyters have the greatest power of any Clergy in the world, and gull the Laity most.
1778. Sketches for Tabernacle-Frames, p. 25, note. These fanatical Preachers frequently squeeze out Tears to gull their Audience. [[232]]
1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, I., 472. It’s generally the lower order that he gulls.
1892. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, ix. Pay your debts, and gull the world a little longer.
Hence Gullible, adj., = easily duped.
1841. Thackeray, Character Sketches, ‘Fashionable Authoress.’ And, gulled themselves, gull the most gullable of publics.