gay

gay
   enjoying or doing something which is the subject of a taboo
   Literally, happy or cheerful. In the 19th century a prostitute might be called a gay girl or lady, leading the gay life:
    I went through all the changes of a gay lady's life. (Mayhew, 1862, quoting an old prostitute)
   Until the 1960s, gay was synonymous with merry as an indication of intoxication:
    It wasn't a very serious crime — getting three amorous Kanaka girls gay on... gin. (Alter, 1960)
   Now standard English for homosexual:
    Investigations were proceeding with a gay club. (Davidson, 1978)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • gay — gay …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • gay — late 14c., full of joy, merry; light hearted, carefree; also wanton, lewd, lascivious (late 12c. as a surname, Philippus de Gay), from O.Fr. gai joyful, happy; pleasant, agreeably charming; forward, pert (12c.; Cf. O.Sp. gayo, Port. gaio, It.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Gay — ist ein aus dem Englischen übernommenes Fremdwort für homosexuell. Es wird als Adjektiv im allgemeinen Sprachgebrauch des deutschsprachigen Raumes häufig synonym mit schwul verwendet, weil es mehrheitlich als weniger direkt und dennoch nicht so… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • gay — [ gɛ ] adj. inv. • 1952 dans un contexte américain; mot angl. « gai » par euphém. ♦ Relatif à l homosexualité masculine, aux homosexuels. Des bars gay. N. m. Homosexuel. Les gays. (Parfois francisé en gai.) ⊗ HOM. Gai, guai, guet. ● gay adjectif… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • gay — 1. • There is no historical case for homosexual ownership of ‘gay’. So can we have our word back, please.’ Paul Johnson, 1995. This typifies the reaction of many people to this major change, occurring from the mid 20c but with occasional earlier… …   Modern English usage

  • gay — GAY, Gaye. adj. Joyeux. Un homme gay. un visage gay. mine gaye. humeur gaye. esprit gay. estre gay. rendre gay. se tenir gay. devenir gay. avoir l esprit gay, l oeil gay. avoir un air gay. il est gay & gaillard. Il sign. aussi, Ce qui resjoüit.… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Gay.ru — URL: gay.ru …   Википедия

  • GAY (J.) — GAY JOHN (1685 1732) Orphelin dès l’âge de dix ans, John Gay fut placé par son oncle à l’école de Barnstaple où il eut un bon maître latiniste, qui lui donna l’amour des classiques. À sa sortie de l’école, il fut pris en apprentissage chez un… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Gay — (g[=a]), a. [Compar. {Gayer}; superl. {Gayest}.] [F. gai, perhaps fr. OHG. g?hi swift, rapid, G. g[ a]h, j[ a]h, steep, hasty; or cf. OHG. w?hi beatiful, good. Cf. {Jay}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Excited with merriment; manifesting sportiveness or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gay — Gay: Gay мужчина с гомосексуальной идентичностью, другие названия: гомосексуал, голубой, человек с нетрадиционной сексуальной ориентацией. Gay фамилия «Гей» на иностранных языках. Gay   общепринятое сокращение (обозначение) имени… …   Википедия

  • Gay — /gay/, n. 1. John, 1685 1732, English poet and dramatist. 2. a female or male given name. * * * (as used in expressions) gay rights movement Gay John Gay Lussac Joseph Louis Marvin Pentz Gay * * * …   Universalium

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