gussy

[ guhs-ee ]

/ ˈgʌs i /

Informal.

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

Definition for gussy (2 of 2)

Gussie

or Gus·sy

[ guhs-ee ]

/ ˈgʌs i /

noun

a female given name, form of Augusta.

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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
If we are to judge folk by their wames, gussy pig gruntin' in the trough wad be king o' men.
Cleg Kelly, Arab of the City|S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
The gals then go thru a lot of moshuns, dansin the racket, and Gussy sets 'em up.
The Bad Boy At Home|Walter T. Gray

Gussy dreams of me as "very handsome" and "are my whiskers growing?"
The Life, Letters and Work of Frederic Leighton|Mrs. Russell Barrington
"Dear Gussy" cried for spite, and stamped her way out of the room, followed by Furlong.
Handy Andy, Volume 2 (of 2)|Samuel Lover

Word Origin and History for gussy

gussy

"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.