Deeper Dive: guy

Guy (?), n. [Sp. guia guide, a guy or small rope used on board of ships to keep weighty things in their places; of Teutonic origin, and the same word as E. guide. See Guide, and cf. Gye.] A rope, chain, or rod attached to anything to steady it; as: a rope to steady or guide an object which is being hoisted or lowered; a rope which holds in place the end of a boom, spar, or yard in a ship; a chain or wire rope connecting a suspension bridge with the land on either side to prevent lateral swaying; a rod or rope attached to the top of a structure, as of a derrick, and extending obliquely to the ground, where it is fastened.
Guy , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Guyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Guying.] To steady or guide with a guy.
Guy , n.
1. A grotesque effigy, like that of Guy Fawkes, dressed up in England on the fifth of November, the day of the Gunpowder Plot.
The lady . . . who dresses like a guy. W. S. Gilbert.
2. A person of queer looks or dress.Dickens.
Guy , v. t. To fool; to baffle; to make (a person) an object of ridicule. [Local & Collog U.S.]


-- Webster's unabridged 1913







morpheme phoneme statistics idioms




ignite