Definitions of the word gay:-(of a person, especially a man) homosexual-light-hearted and carefree-brightly coloured; showy-foolish, stupid, or unimpressive
In todays' English the term 'gay' typically refers to a
homosexual person but it was first coined to mean "full of joy" or
"wanton" from the Old French word 'gai' which meant "joyful,
pleasant, happy". The word 'gay' had always had a level of promiscuity
surrounding it and brothels came to be known as 'a gay house', this gave the
word 'gay' a idea of immorality and addiction. The term 'going gay' also meant
to adopt a hedonistic lifestyle.
The first appearance in the English language of the word in
in a poem titled 'Blow, Northerne Wind" which reads:
"She is precious in day
gracious, stout, and gay,
gentle, jolly as the jay"
The slang term for 'gay' meaning homosexual can be tracked
back to earlier psychological writings of the 1940s. It can be tracked back
further to the 1890s with the term 'gay cat' meaning 'young hobo'. These 'gay
cats' (typically male) would follow more experienced hobos for protection and
instruction typically in exchange for sexual favours. It mainly gained
popularity for meaning 'homosexual' in the 1950s and since then has been
adapted into other language such as Japanese, Swedish and Dutch to mean the
same thing.
On early use of the word 'gay' to mean homosexual is found
in the song "Gay Young Clerk in the Dry Goods Store" by female
impersonator Will S. Hays in 1868 which says, "He’s a handsome man and he’s
proud and poor, / This gay young clerk in the Dry-Goods Store". The lyrics
so explicitly link to homosexuality but when sung by a man in drag it can be
interpreted this way.
The first obvious use of the word gay to mean homosexual is
from the 1929 play 'Bitter Sweet' in the song 'Green Carnation' with the
lyrics:
"Pretty boys, witty boys, You may sneer
At our disintegration.
Haughty boys, naughty boys,
Dear, dear, dear!
Swooning with affectation...
And as we are the reason
For the “Nineties” being gay,
We all wear a green carnation."
The penultimate line refers to how the 1890s were called
'the gay nineties'.
Recently the term 'gay' has
become much less formal and is being linked to meaning
"stupid" or "unimpressive" in the 2000s. This could be
because terms meaning to be ‘gay’ have been seen as degrading previously using
'bender' and 'poofter' as they were considered to be more offensive than the
neutral 'gay'. It was typically used by heterosexual people to single out
someone in the group as being different, even when they weren't. The term 'gay'
has lost its sexual meaning to younger boys who seem to use it to mean 'lame'
and they seem to use it in situations which sexuality is irrelevant.
Terms that came from 'gay' are such words as 'gaydar' which
means to be able to sense someone else's sexuality. This can also be from an
idea of a stereotypical ‘gay’ person and how someone’s looks can affect their
sexuality. This is typically seen as a negative thing in a 21st century
society. It is also a blend word between ‘gay’ and ‘radar’.
