called also guyline
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In England, November 5—Guy Fawkes Day—is celebrated by setting off fireworks and lighting bonfires. Human likenesses made of tattered clothes stuffed with hay or rags are burned on the bonfires. The day is named after a 17thcentury man, Guy Fawkes, who led a plot to blow up the British Parliament buildings. Fawkes managed to hide 20 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of the buildings. However, the plot was discovered before he could carry out his plans. He was seized and later put to death. The human likenesses burned on the fires came to be called guys. The verb guy “to ridicule” is derived from this story also. The use of the word was extended to similar figures and then to a person of strange appearance or dress. In the US, the word came to mean simply “man” and in time “a person of either sex.”
Synonyms
Examples of guy in a Sentence
Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 26 Nov. 2023
This 4-foot step ladder is a little guy, perfect for keeping in the home for jobs that require you to reach the ceiling, without the bulk of a standard 8-foot ladder.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2023
At Mikimoto, the phenomenon has meant growing demand for pearl jewels to be worn by guys.
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 2023
Like the time a guy stole a tank in San Diego County and was stopped only because he got stuck on a highway divider.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2023
Could you guys watch romantic movies together or read classic love stories?
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023
Gift your guy this tent for un upcoming trip or just a fun night of backyard camping and s'mores.
—Olivia Muenter, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023
My thanks to: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: For being the best parade, the only one that matters to an I-don’t-care-about-or-understand parades guy.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023
People forget, but for a director who established himself early on as an indie guy, Payne’s movies have historically made pretty good money: The Descendants reached $82 million!
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2023
Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 1 Sep. 2021
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'guy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing guy
Dictionary Entries Near guy
Cite this Entry
“Guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guy. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
guy
1 of 3 nounguy
2 of 3 verbguy
3 of 3 nounNoun
probably from Dutch gei "a rope used to control a sail"
Noun
named for Guy Fawkes 1570–1606 English criminal
More from Merriam-Webster on guy
Nglish: Translation of guy for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of guy for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about guy
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