guv

American  

[guhv] / gʌv /

noun

Chiefly British Informal.

1. term of address used to a man, especially by a younger man, boy, employee, or social inferior.

2. governor.

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guv British  

/ ɡʌv, ˈɡʌvnə /

noun

1. an informal name for governor

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Etymology

Origin of guv

First recorded in 1850–55; by shortening and respelling

Example Sentences

Ofqual's defence to all of this, according to Mr Halfon, could be summed up as: "Not me, guv."

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2020

“I went to high school with GOP guv candidate @BrianKempGA,” Davis wrote in the now-deleted tweet.

From Fox News • Dec. 22, 2018

Lest that sound like our guv is just another face in the crowd, consider this: Cillizza put Inslee in the second of four “tiers” — the first tier being most likely to clinch the nomination.

From Seattle Times • May 2, 2017

Yes, for nigh on four centuries they've been leaning down to expectant faces and querying, "Where to, guv?"

From New York Times • Nov. 28, 2012

I really thought that guv had something on the ball.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole