guy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an informal term for a youth or man

   a nice guy

2. 2
   verb

   steady or support with a guy wire or cable

   The Italians guyed the Tower of Pisa to prevent it from collapsing

3. 3
   noun

   A person of eccentric appearance or dress; a "fright".

   “But shan’t I look a guy?” “Not a bit of it. Jist the very kick!”

4. 4
   noun

   A man or boy; a fellow.

   “You don't say so? I thought he was some guy from Pennsylvania.”

5. 5
   noun

   A person (see usage notes).

   My “Guys” actually constitute a collection of people that range from my nearest and dearest girlfriends, my immediate and extended family, co-workers and acquaintances that care.

6. 6
   noun

   Anything seen to have character and personality, such as an animal or a toy.

   The dog's left foreleg was broken, poor little guy.

7. 7
   noun

   dude, Buster, Mack, fella, bud, man.

   Hey, guy, give a man a break, would ya?

8. 8
   noun

   Thing, item (term that can be used to refer to any entity)

   This guy, here, controls the current, and this guy, here, measures the voltage.

Etymology

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.