I. ˈgət 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 gut s 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
( gut·ted ; gut·ting )
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
•
- gut it out
III. adjective
Date: 1964
1. : arising from one's inmost self : visceral
a gut reaction
2. : having strong impact or immediate relevance
gut issues