guv
UK[ɡʌv]US[ɡʌv]
n
(British, informal) A way of addressing a man, used especially by working-class people, sometimes to a person in authority.
Etymology
The word 'guv' is a British colloquialism that emerged in the 19th century as a clipped and phonetically altered form of 'governor.' 'Governor' itself originates from the Old French 'governeor,' derived from the Latin 'gubernator,' meaning 'director' or 'helmsman,' which in turn comes from the Greek 'kybernetes.' The transition from the formal 'governor,' a title for one in command, to the informal 'guv' reflects a linguistic process of abbreviation and familiarization, transforming a term of authority into a casual, often respectful form of address for any man, particularly among the working class.
Analysis
The word is a simplex, a clipped and altered form of "governor." It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes in its modern spelling.
Examples
"Morning, guv. Your usual paper?"
"Excuse me, guv, do you know the way to the station?"
"The taxi driver turned and said, 'Where to, guv?'"