- gut
-
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English guttas, plural; probably akin to Old English gēotan to pour
Date: before 12th century
1.
a.
(1) bowels, entrails — usually used in plural
(2) the basic visceral or emotional part of a person
b. alimentary canal; also part of the alimentary canal and especially the intestine or stomach
c. belly, abdomen
d. catgut
2. plural the inner essential parts <the guts of a car> 3. a narrow passage; also a narrow waterway or small creek 4. the sac of silk taken from a silkworm ready to spin its cocoon and drawn out into a thread for use as a snell 5. plural fortitude and stamina in coping with what alarms, repels, or discourages ; courage, pluck 6. gut course II. transitive verb (gutted; gutting) Date: 14th century 1. a. eviscerate b. to extract all the essential passages or portions from 2. a. to destroy the inside of <fire gutted the building> b. to destroy the essential power or effectiveness of <inflation gutting the economy> III. adjective Date: 1964 1. arising from one's inmost self ; visceral <a gut reaction> 2. having strong impact or immediate relevance <gut issues>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.