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Etymology
Dictionary
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Origin of the word GAY. Etymology of the word
GAY.
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From An Etymology
Dictionary of the English Language, by Walter W. Skeat, 1893. |
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GAY,
lively, merry, sportive. (F.,—M.H.G.) M.E. gay,
Chaucer, C. T. 3213; Will. of Palerne, 816; King Alisaunder, ed. Weber, 3204.—O.F.
gai, merry; spelt gay in Cotgrave.—M.H.G. gæhe,
O.H.G. gáhi (older form káhi), G. jähe, quick, sudden, rash, and hence, lively;
we also find M.H.G. gách, with the same sense.—M.H.G.
gán, G. gehen, to
go; cognate with E. go; see Go. Cf. the E. slang phrase 'to be full
of go.' Der. gai-ly, Will. of Palerne, 1625; gai-e-ty, used by Bp.
Taylor, Holy Dying, c. 5. s. 5 [not 15] (R.), from O.F. gayeté, 'mirth,'
Cot. Also jay, q.v.
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| Etymology
Dictionary Index |
| A, B,
C, D, E,
F, G, H,
I, J, K,
L, M, N,
O, P, Q,
R, S, T,
U, V, W,
X, Y, Z
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| Key |
| Arab.=Arabic. |
| A.S.=Anglo
Saxon. |
| Bavar.=Bavarian |
| Bohem.=Bohemian. |
| C.=Celtic,
used as a general term for Irish, Gaelic, Welsh, Breton,
Cornish, &c. |
| Corn.=Cornish. |
| Dan.=Danish. |
| Du.=Dutch |
| E.=English. |
| E.E.=Early
English. |
| Europ.=European. |
| F.=French. |
| G.=German. |
| Gk.=Greek. |
| Goth.=Gothic. |
| Icel.=Icelandic. |
| Ital.=Italian. |
| L. or
Lat.=Latin. |
| Lith.
& Lithuan.=Lithuanian. |
| M.E.=Middle
English. |
| M.F.=Middle
French |
| M.H.G.=Middle
High German. |
| Norw.=Norwegian. |
| O.F.=Old
French. |
| O.H.G.=Old
High German. |
| Pers.=Persian. |
| Port.=Portuguese. |
| Scand.=Scandinavian,
used as a general term for Icelandic, Swedish, Danish,
&c. |
| Sc.=Scottish. |
| Skt.=Sanskrit. |
| Span.=Spanish. |
| Swed.=Sweish. |
| Teut.=Teutonic |
| Turk.=Turkish. |
| W.=Welsh. |
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