Word: faggot Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Pre-Greekder. Ancient Greek φάκελος (phákelos)der. Vulgar Latin *facusder.? Old French fagotbor. Middle English fagot English faggot From Middle English fagot, from Old French fagot (“bundle of sticks”), of uncertain origin. Unlikely from Old Occitan fagot or Italian fagotto, as these appear later than the Old French term. Compare also Italian fangotto and Spanish fajo (“bundle, wad”). Perhaps from a diminutive of Vulgar Latin *facus, from Ancient Greek φάκελος (phákelos, “bundle of wood”). The senses relating to persons, though possibly originating as an extension of the sense "bundle of sticks" (compare baggage), may have been reinforced by fag, from fagging and/or by faygele, from Yiddish פֿייגעלע (feygele, “homosexual”, literally “little bird”), related to English fowl. Pronunciation: /ˈfæɡət/, [ˈfæɡət], /ˈfeɪ̯ɡət/, [ˈfeɪ̯ɡət] 1. A bundle of sticks or brushwood intended to be used for fuel tied together for carrying. (Some sources specify that a faggot is tied with two bands or withes, whereas a bavin is tied with just one.) Labels: Ireland, UK, collective Example: In the depth of, winter, however, a faggot of real French Sticks — although of little intrinsic value — may possibly enliven for a few moments an English Fireside. Example: Besides the logs and roots that simmered with turves and dung on the cottage fire, rapid heat for bread-making came from faggots - bundles of dry twigs about 4 ft long - which were fed into the oven, burned and then removed as ash before the dough went in. 2. Burdensome baggage. Labels: obsolete 3. A bundle of pieces of iron or steel cut off into suitable lengths for welding. 4. A burning or smouldering piece of firewood. Labels: dated, rare Example: He clambered back on his feet and grinned at them. The waning faggot cast red light over his fangs. Example: To the east, the night grew a faggot of luminous gray, then seashell opalescence that dimmed the stars. 5. A meatball made with offcuts and offal, especially pork. Labels: Ireland, UK Example: Today would be faggots in gravy and chocolate pudding with a white sauce. I didn't like faggots but picked at them and rolled the peas around my plate. 6. A gay man, especially an effeminate one; (by extension) a non-heterosexual man. Labels: offensive, vulgar Example: Drag, Example: “All the fagots (sissies) will be dressed in drag at the ball tonight. Example: See the little faggot with the earring and the makeup? / Yeah buddy, that's his own hair / That little faggot got his own jet airplane / That little faggot, he's a millionaire 7. A man considered effeminate. Labels: Canada, US, derogatory, offensive, vulgar 8. An annoying, inconsiderate or contemptible person. Labels: Canada, US, derogatory, offensive, vulgar 9. An old and/or shrewish woman. Labels: Ireland, UK, archaic, colloquial, derogatory, offensive Example: I appoynt thée no more continencie, than to eate while thy bellie is full, nor conﬅancie, but to brawle rather than burne: a filbert is better than a faggot, except it be an Athenian ſhe handfull: you know that Coſmoſophos, euer ſince your laﬅ mariage, how doth the father of your ſonne in law? Example: she wants me to go to bed to her, and I won't, ... for she is as crooked as a ram's horn ... and as ugly as sin besides ; rot her, the dirty little faggot, she torments me. 10. A soldier numbered on the muster roll, but not really existing. Labels: obsolete, offensive, possibly 11. A faggot voter. Labels: Ireland, UK, historical, offensive, possibly Example: The Glasgow Herald thought that his attack on the faggots was too serious […] 12. A lazy, weak, work-shy person. Labels: Ireland, UK, dated, offensive, slang