A British slang term for a governor, boss, or man in authority; often used as a respectful but informal form of address.
A shortened, colloquial form of 'governor,' common in British English especially among working-class speakers. The abbreviation became common in the 19th-20th centuries as informal speech patterns were written down.
In British slang, 'guv' is a fascinating example of how people create intimacy through abbreviation—it's respectful but casual, the kind of word you'd use with your boss if you had a friendly relationship. It's particularly common in London dialect.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.