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.). gut-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 ]