I. (ˈ)jē|ī adjective
Etymology: from unofficial abbreviation (used by United States Army quartermaster clerks in listing such articles as garbage cans) for galvanized iron, but taken to be abbreviation for government issue or general issue
1. : carried or provided by an official supply department of the United States armed forces
said the GI shoes hurt his feet — Jimmy Cannon
2. : of, relating to, or characteristic of enlisted personnel of the United States armed forces
that meal's scaled to a GI appetite — Mademoiselle
3.
a. : conforming to military regulations or customs
his fuzzy red-dyed hair cut in GI style — National Geographic
b. : devoted to or demanding strict military discipline
he was, the men complained, too GI — a stickler for spit and polish — A.R.Matthews
4. : designed for the use or benefit of military personnel
more than 30 new GI training bills in the legislative hopper — Time
II. noun
( plural GI's or GIs )
: a member or former member of the United States armed forces ; especially : an enlisted man
many GI's showed an abysmal lack of knowledge — Reporter
III. transitive verb
( GI'd ; GI'd ; GI'ing ; GI's )
Etymology: GI (I)
: to prepare for or as if for military inspection
the barracks … were in fine order — they'd been GI'd the night before — New Republic
IV. adverb
Etymology: GI (I)
: in strict conformity with military regulations or customs
men like to have everything run GI — R.V.Cassill
V. abbreviation
1. galvanized iron
2. gastrointestinal
3. general issue; government issue