Word Origin & History
gigolo1922, from Fr. gigolo, formed as a masc. of gigole "tall, thin woman; dancing girl; prostitute," perhaps from verb gigoter "to move the shanks, hop," from gigue "shank," also "fiddle," of Gmc. origin. This is perhaps the same word that was borrowed earlier as M.E. giglot (mid-14c.) "lewd, wanton girl,"
EXPANDwhich was later applied to males (1520s) with the sense "villainous man." M.E. gigletry meant "lasciviousness" (late 14c.).
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