guv

noun — 2 senses

guv

noun

Etymology Alternative phonetic spelling of gov, short for governor.

1

Ireland, London, UK, Informal A form of address to a man, usually a stranger or a superior.

  • Spare two quid, guv? I 'aven't eaten since yesterday.
  • Right away, guv... I mean, sarge.
2

UK, Informal A male prison officer.

  • We cover up the window so the guvs can't see us.
Synonyms
boss, guv'nor, mate
Related terms
guv'nor, governor

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.