guy

== English == === Pronunciation === (MLE) IPA(key): /ɡæ/ enPR: gī, IPA(key): /ɡaɪ/ (US, Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): [ɡaɪ] (Standard Southern British) IPA(key): [ɡɑj] (Canada) IPA(key): [ɡaɪ] (dialectal) IPA(key): [ɡəj] (General Australian) IPA(key): [ɡɑɪ] Rhymes: -aɪ === Etymology 1 === Coined by semantic widening from the name of Guy Fawkes (1570–1606), an English Catholic executed for his role in the Gunpowder Plot, from Old French Gui, a form of Proto-Germanic *Wido, a short form of names beginning with the element witu "wood" from Proto-Germanic *widuz, such as Witold and Widukind. Cognate with Italian Guido. ==== Noun ==== guy (plural guys) (UK, Ireland) An effigy of a man burned on a bonfire on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot (5th November). (dated) A person of eccentric appearance or dress; a "fright". (colloquial) A man or boy; a fellow. Synonyms: dude, fella, homey, bro, bloke, chap; see also Thesaurus:boy, Thesaurus:man Coordinate terms: gal, broad, dame, girl, jane, woman, bird, chick (especially in the plural, sometimes controversial) A person (see usage notes). 2025 September 5, Angela Collier, “CONTACT (backyard radio telescope part II)”[4], YouTube: I recently rewatched the original Star Wars trilogy. I'm not a Star Wars guy, but I did enjoy them a lot more than I did the first time. / The movie seemed more like just Ellie's personal journey into being, like, "Wow, religion can be cool, I guess", which is fine, but I'm more of a sci-fi guy, so I would rather read the book. (colloquial) Anything seen to have character and personality, such as an animal or a toy. (informal, term of address) dude, Buster, Mack, fella, bud, man. (colloquial) Thing, item (term that can be used to refer to any entity) ===== Usage notes ===== In plural, guys may not be completely gender-neutral, but it may refer to people of any gender in some circumstances and forms; the greeting “Hey guys”, or any vocative utterance, can generally refer to people of any gender (although this use can be controversial). Referring to a group as “guys” often means a group of men or a mixed-gender group, though usage among American youth may even refer to groups of only women. When used of animals, guy usually refers to either a male or one whose gender is not known; it is rarely if ever used of an animal that is known to be female. The matching term for a female is gal. In some varieties of US and Canadian English, you guys revives the distinction between a singular and plural you, much like y'all or yous in other varieties; in this sense, guys may be used for groups of any combination of genders. Cf. usage notes at you guys. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== guy (third-person singular simple present guys, present participle guying, simple past and past participle guyed) (intransitive) To exhibit an effigy of Guy Fawkes around the 5th November. (transitive) To make fun of, to ridicule with wit or innuendo. (theater, transitive) To play in a comedic manner. ==== References ==== Guy Fawkes created the word guy, Adam Taylor, Nov 5, 2013, Business insider. === Etymology 2 === From Old French guie, linked to verb guier (“guide”), from Frankish *wītan, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wītaną (“know”). Cognate with English guide. ==== Noun ==== guy (plural guys or (obsolete) guies) (obsolete, rare) A guide; a leader or conductor. (chiefly nautical) A support rope or cable used to aid in hoisting or lowering. (chiefly nautical) A support to secure or steady structures prone to shift their position or be carried away (e.g. the mast of a ship or a suspension bridge). ===== Holonyms ===== (nautical): cordage ===== Derived terms ===== guy rope guy wire ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== guy (third-person singular simple present guys, present participle guying, simple past and past participle guyed) To equip with a support cable. ===== Translations ===== === See also === gal === References === “guy”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “guy”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. === Anagrams === yug == Dutch == === Etymology === Borrowed from English guy. === Noun === guy m (plural guys, diminutive guytje n) (slang) guy Synonyms: gozer, gast, kerel, sjarel Die guy aan de deur is geloof ik helemaal geen bouncer. ― I don't think that guy at the door is a bouncer at all. === See also === boy == Wolof == === Etymology === Related to buy (“baobab fruit”). === Pronunciation === === Noun === guy (definite form guy gi) baobab