guy English · revision 2314

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɡaɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|rope}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=borrowing|attested=1623}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The rope is, on the usual account, [[inh|enm|gye|t=a guide]], [[bor|fro|guie|t=a guide; a crane]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(RHWU)^(Klein 1966) from [[m|fro|guier|t=to guide]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) from [[frk|*witan|t=to show the way]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[guide]].^(Klein 1966)^(Barnhart 1988) Hoad, Merriam-Webster and the Concise Oxford instead derive it from Low German, comparing [[nl|gei|t=brail]],^(Hoad 1986)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004) and the Shorter Oxford takes only the old sense “guide” from French and the rope from Low German.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A guide, a leader: about 1350, a sense now obsolete,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and in the compound ''girap'' “guy rope”, 1371.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The nautical sense, a rope that steadies or guides something being hoisted, dates from 1623.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) The verb “to secure with a guy” is from 1712.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Sailors' slang had ''clap a guy on'', “to put a stop to”, from 1814.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1350 – a guide, leader.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1371 – ''girap'', guy rope.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1623 – a steadying rope.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1712 – verb, to secure with a guy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A rope, chain or cable used to steady, guide or secure something, such as a [[mast]] or [[tent]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To steady or secure with a guy.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ {{homograph|2|fellow}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=eponym|attested=1806}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The fellow comes from the name of Guy Fawkes (1570–1606), leader of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 to blow up the King and Parliament.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) His effigy, paraded through the streets by children on the anniversary and burnt on a bonfire on 5 November, was called a ''guy'' from 1806.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An effigy of Guy Fawkes: 1806.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the ragged effigy, ''guy'' came to mean a grotesquely dressed person in 1836.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The sense “man, fellow” is first recorded in 1847, in American English according to Etymonline and the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Barnhart instead says it began in Britain and became popular in the United States in the late 1800s, its first American use being in George Ade's ''Artie'' (1896).^(Barnhart 1988) ''Fall guy'', ''wise guy'' and ''tough guy'' are American.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Guy'' “to make fun of” began as theatrical slang in the mid-19th century.^(Cresswell 2021)^(SOED 2002) ''Guys'' now also refers to people of either sex.^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1806 – an effigy of Guy Fawkes.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1825 – ''Guy Fawkes Day''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1836 – a grotesquely dressed person.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1847 – a man, a fellow.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-19th century – verb, to ridicule.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1896 – American use in George Ade's ''Artie''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' A man; a [[fellow]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(informal, plural)'' People of either sex.^(AHD)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' A person of odd or grotesque dress.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # An [[effigy]] of Guy Fawkes burnt on [[Guy Fawkes Night]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make fun of; to [[ridicule]].^(AHD)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[guide]]

+ * [[fellow]]

+ * [[bloke]]

+ * [[chap]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}