guy

¹

[gahy]

noun

1. Informal.,  a man or boy; fellow.

   He's a nice guy.

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

   Could one of you guys help me with this?

3. Chiefly British Slang.,  a grotesquely dressed person.

4. British.,  Often Guy 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, gee]

noun

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

guy

¹

/ 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

²

/ 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

³

/ ɡaɪ /

noun

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

GUY

⁴

abbreviation

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

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, to escape from (someone); give (someone) the slip.

Example Sentences

"That last guy we used to play soccer with," he tells the BBC, "and the one in the middle, he's a musician, I know him from el-Fasher."

From BBC

A lot of people see the president less as a frothing-at-the-mouth fanatic and more like a glib businessman, the guy they remember with some fondness from “The Apprentice.”

From Salon

Friedman continued, “We’ve seen it time and time again with guys who have scuffled and all of a sudden found it and they roll off a heater.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Okay, so after you guys shot them, they didn’t completely die?” the informant asked.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think they’re not afraid to fail. They like the spotlight. And it’s just a really good heartbeat for those guys in those big moments.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dude 
• fellow 
• lad 
• man