George
nounEtymology
Name of an early saint, from Middle English George, from Latin Geōrgius, from Ancient Greek Γεώργῐος (Geṓrgĭos), from γεωργός (geōrgós, “farmer, earth worker”), from γῆ (gê, “earth”) (combining form γεω- (geō-)) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”) Doublet of Jorge and Geevarghese. The aircraft autopilot sense is probably from George DeBeeson, who patented an early (1931) autopilot system, and/or a reference to the expression let George do it. The Pullman porter sense derives from George Pullman, who hired Black people to staff his sleeping cars, and the patrons of the service seeing the Black people as servants of George Porter, much like how a slave was named after the master.
- Take the Georges, Pew, and don’t stand here squalling.1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
A jewelled figure of St George slaying the dragon, worn by Knights of the Garter.
- […] the King appears to be wearing a George containing the motto inside the gems, as it is in the jewel at Windsor.1908, Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, A History of the George Worn on the Scaffold by Charles I, page 93:
- Derived terms
- George plateroon