guy

¹

[ gahy ]

noun

1. Informal. a man or boy; fellow:

   He's a nice guy.

2. none guys, Informal. people, regardless of their gender:

   Could one of you guys help me with this?

3. Chiefly British Slang. a grotesquely dressed person.
4. Often Guy. British. a grotesque effigy of Guy Fawkes that is paraded through the streets and burned on Guy Fawkes Day.

verb (used with object)

, guyed, guy·ing.

1. to jeer at or make fun of; ridicule.

guy

²

[ gahy ]

noun

1. a rope, cable, or appliance used to guide and steady an object being hoisted or lowered, or to secure anything likely to shift its position.

verb (used with object)

, guyed, guy·ing.

1. to guide, steady, or secure with a guy or guys.

Guy

³

[ gahy; French gee ]

noun

1. a male given name: from a Germanic word meaning “woods.”

guy

¹

/ ɡaɪ /

noun

1. a rope, chain, wire, etc, for anchoring an object, such as a radio mast, in position or for steadying or guiding it while being hoisted or lowered

verb

1. tr to anchor, steady, or guide with a guy or guys

guy

²

/ ɡaɪ /

noun

1. informal.
   a man or youth
2. a crude effigy of Guy Fawkes, usually made of old clothes stuffed with straw or rags, that is burnt on top of a bonfire on Guy Fawkes Day
3. a person in shabby or ludicrously odd clothes
4. informal.
   plural persons of either sex

verb

1. tr to make fun of; ridicule

Guy

³

/ ɡaɪ /

noun

1. GuyBuddy1936MUSMUSIC: blues singerMUSIC: guitarist Buddy, real name George Guy. born 1936, US blues singer and guitarist

GUY

⁴

abbreviation for

1. Guyana (international car registration)

Word History and Origins

Origin of guy¹

First recorded in 1800–10; after Guy Fawkes

Origin of guy²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gi(e), from Old French guie “a guide,” derivative of guier to guide

Word History and Origins

Origin of guy¹

C14: probably from Low German; compare Dutch gei brail, geiblok pulley, Old French guie guide, from guier to guide

Origin of guy²

C19: short for Guy Fawkes

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. give the guy to, British Slang. to escape from (someone); give (someone) the slip.

Related Words

• dude
• fellow
• lad
• man