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, guying.

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, guying.

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

GUY

²

abbreviation for

1. Guyana (international car registration)

guy

³

/ 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

⁴

/ 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

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

C19: short for Guy Fawkes

Origin of guy²

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

Example Sentences

“If there’s one guy up for it, it’s me and our team,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

“On the field, he’s got most of the guys’ attention, barking out instructions,” Martin said.

From Los Angeles Times

He became a door guy at the Comedy Store in 2021, dedicated to transforming himself into a self-described “road dog” with a full hour of jokes under his belt and headlining shows on the calendar.

From Los Angeles Times

To have both parties centering themselves so firmly in this dispute doesn't achieve what either seems to want — to look like the good guy here, the one who is telling the truth.

From Salon

“The older guys like Nicklaus had been to Scotland and knew what haggis was. But the newer ones ... they weren’t too sure about it.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dude
• fellow
• lad
• man