What is the origin of the word guy?

Answer 1

It may seem strange that the Serbian noun 'grlo' is related to English 'girl', and it may seem even stranger to speculate that girl has come from the corresponding Proto-Slavic word. However, it all becomes much clearer and plausible if we know that 'grlo' in Serbian also denotes a head of cattle, usually a horse, and also a household member. Aditionally, the original meaning of the noun girl was "child in general" (boy or girl, and that usually marked with plural). The emergence of meaning 'cheljade' (members of a household) in relation to the noun 'grlo' (neck in Serbian) is motivated in Serbian. Proto-IndoEuropean root *guer- gained its expansion -dlo only in BaltoSlavic languages (ProtoSlavic *grъdlo (grdlo) > O.C.S. гръло (grlo), Russian горло (gorlo), Polish gardlo, Old Prussian gircele). In Germanic languages an expected shift had occured: Old High German querka, querechela 'throat', Old Islandic kuerk 'throat, craw'. In Latin gurgulio 'throat, trachea' has l, but doesn't have the meaning of a housold member and could not produce meaning 'girl'. The explanation for this is quite down-to-earth and is verifiable by geography and history. Namely, what we have here is probably the case of Germanic loanword from some Slavic dialect from the north of today's East Germany, the area where West Slavs (Sorbs or Wends) and Anglo-Saxons had been in direct contact! Source of information: SRPSKO - ENGLESKI REČNIK ETIMOLOŠKIH PAROVA by Boris Hlebec

Answer 2

The word guy originated in Britain in the 1600's. Guy Fawkes was a notorious revolutionary who plotted to bomb the king and the parliament. The plot failed and on November 5th thereafter, Guy Fawkes Day is celebrate and effigies are hung. Those effigies are known as guys.