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gussy

[guhs-ee]Informal.

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verb (used with object), gus·sied, gus·sy·ing.

to enhance the attractiveness of in a gimmicky, showy manner (usually followed by up): a room gussied up with mirrors and lights.

verb (used without object), gus·sied, gus·sy·ing.

to dress in one's best clothes (usually followed by up): to gussy up for the ball.

Origin of gussy

First recorded in 1935–40; of obscure origin

Gussie

or Gus·sy

[guhs-ee]

noun

a female given name, form of Augusta.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gussy

Contemporary Examples of gussy

But Spode is a character from pure planet Wodehouse—just as much as Aunt Agatha or Gussy Fink-Nottle.
Can Fascism be Funny?
Douglas Murray
September 28, 2010

Historical Examples of gussy

Gussy, I strongly advise you to start wearing a tickler now.
The Creature from Cleveland Depths
Fritz Reuter Leiber
Will try Haddon for Savoy, and anything in the world you like, if you can get Gussy.
In the Cage
Henry James
Gussy 'pares in the background and givs the gals $5 to danse a bally for his own speshell benerfit.
The Bad Boy At Home
Walter T. Gray
"Dear Gussy" cried for spite, and stamped her way out of the room, followed by Furlong.
Handy Andy, Volume 2 (of 2)
Samuel Lover
I am very glad to hear that you and Gussy are both at all events a little better at last.
The Life, Letters and Work of Frederic Leighton
Mrs. Russell Barrington

Word Origin and History for gussy

v.

"to dress up or decorate in a showy way," 1952, American English slang, apparently from Gussy (1940), schoolyard slang name for an overly dressed person, perhaps related to gussie (1901) "effeminate man," and somehow connected to the nickname for Augusta and Augustus.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper