ɡʌt n. & v. --n. 1
the lower
alimentary canal or a
part of
this; the
intestine. 2 (in pl.) the
bowel or
entrails,
esp. of animals. 3 (in pl.) colloq.
personal courage and determination;
vigorous application and
perseverance. 4 (in pl.) colloq. the
belly as the
source of
appetite. 5 (in pl.) a the contents of
anything, esp. representing substantiality. b the
essence of a
thing, e.g. of an
issue or
problem. 6 a
material for violin or racket strings or
surgical use made from the intestines of animals. b material for fishing-lines made from the silk-glands of silkworms. 7 a a
narrow water-passage; a
sound, straits. b a defile or narrow passage. 8 (attrib.) a
instinctive (a gut reaction). b
fundamental (a gut issue). --v.tr. (gutted, gutting) 1
remove or
destroy (esp. by fire) the
internal fittings of (a
house etc.). 2
take out the guts of (a fish). 3
extract the essence of (a
book etc.). øgut-rot colloq. 1 = rot-gut. 2 a
stomach upset.
hate a person's guts colloq.
dislike a
person intensely.
sweat (or work) one's guts out colloq.
work extremely
hard. [OE guttas (pl.), prob. rel. to geotan pour]
