gigolo
pronunciation
How to pronounce gigolo in British English:
UK [ˈʒɪgələʊ]
How to pronounce gigolo in American English:
US [ˈʒɪgəloʊ]
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- Noun:
- a man who has sex with and is supported by a woman
Word Origin
- gigolo (n.)
- "professional male escort or dancing partner, young man supported financially by an older woman in exchange for his attentions," 1922, from French gigolo, formed as a masc. of gigole "tall, thin woman; dancing girl; prostitute," perhaps from verb gigoter "to move the shanks, hop," from gigue "shank" (12c.), also "fiddle," Old French giga from Frankish *giga- or some other Germanic word (compare German Geige "fiddle"). This is perhaps the same word that was borrowed earlier as Middle English giglot (early 14c.) "lewd, wanton girl," which was later applied to males (mid-15c.) with the sense "villainous man." It is perhaps related to a number of words in Germanic meaning "dance, gambol," and "fiddle," perhaps connected by the notion of "rapid, whirling motion" (see gig (n.1)). Middle English gigletry meant "lasciviousness, harlotry" (late 14c.). Naturally, no decent French girl would have been allowed for a single moment to dance with a gigolo. But America, touring Europe like mad after years of enforced absence, outnumbered all other nations atravel ten to one. [Edna Ferber, "Gigolo," 1922]
Example
- 1. A gigolo only screws one person at a time .
- 2. First legal u.s. gigolo starts work in nevada .
- 3. However you deny it , you 're a gigolo .
- 4. You 're bringing your big gigolo here to seder .
- 5. That dragon lady have three gigolo under her husband 's nose .