Where does the term gay come from

Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. [1] While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 19th century, that meaning became increasingly common by the midth century. [2] In modern English, gay has come to be used as an adjective, and as a noun.

Today I found out how ‘gay’ came to mean ‘homosexual’. The word “gay” seems to have its origins around the 12th century in England, derived from the Old French word ‘gai’, which in turn was probably derived from a Germanic word, though that isn’t completely known. The word’s original meaning meant something to the effect of “joyful”, “carefree”, “full of mirth.

Originating from Old French "gai" (12c.) meaning joyful or light-colored, "gay" evolved from "merry" and "wanton" in the 14c. to also mean a homosexual. By the word “geycat,” meaning a homosexual boy, had found its way into print, giving a clue as to the direction things were starting to go. Sure enough, by “gay” had acquired its present meaning, as P. Wildeblood notes in Against Law: “Most of the officers had been “gay’ an American euphemism for homosexual.” Actually, gays had probably been using the term among.

by Jordan Redman Staff Writer Do you know what the word gay really means?

The word gay dates back to the 12th century and comes from the Old French “gai,” meaning “full of joy or mirth.” It may also relate to the Old High German “gahi,” meaning impulsive. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In the s, in Britain, especially with reference to a London theater of that name, and the kind of musical shows and dancing girls it presented.

The first definition of gay in the Oxford dictionary is: adjective; of a person homosexual used especially of a man , though Rao clarifies that gay is not gender specific, as lesbian is. Alamy Stock Photo. Share Via. As an article on the website of The New England Journal of Medicine mentions, it was only in that homosexuality was deleted from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, thus changing the view that it was a behavioural disorder.

Remove Ads. In Middle English it meant "excellent person, noble lady, gallant knight," also "something gay or bright; an ornament or badge" c. Link your email for The WSJ activation.

Why did the word gay change its meaning

The connection between the Old English and Middle English words "has several points of obscurity" [OED], and except in surnames there is no record of it 13c. Also used of bees c. What does G. The slang meaning "homosexual" adj. Being nakedly anti-gay is still a stance that might cost you jobs, friends, and respect in 21st century society.

A thing not small of its kind may be called pretty if it is of little dignity or consequence: as a pretty dress or shade of color; but pretty is not used of men or their belongings, except in contempt. Pretty applies to that which has symmetry and delicacy, a diminutive beauty, without the higher qualities of gracefulness, dignity, feeling, purpose, etc. See Less. A few years back, a petition was started in change.

As a teen slang word meaning "bad, inferior, undesirable," without reference to sexuality, from Advertisement Close. MLA Style:. However, this word is rooted in the classification of certain types of people as illicit, counterculture or behaving in ways that go against the respectable conventions of society. Quoting a tramp named Frenchy, who might not have known the origin.

A pretty penny "lot of money" is recorded from Advertisement Remove Ads. Your The WSJ subscription is active. Jeremy Hooper, Good As You , The LGBTQ have their own vocabulary, one that often varies from city to city, and has taken on regular words that mean something quite different when applied to themselves or used within the community, says Ashok Row Kavi.