name
Gaylord
GAY-lawd
name
1
An American surname, and a once-popular boy's first name derived from it, common up to the 1960s.
noun
1
A slang, often derogatory, term for a man seen as unmasculine or considered gay.
2
A large box built to fit on a shipping pallet, used for moving bulk goods.
How to Use Gaylord
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally just a surname and given name, it also picked up a mocking slang sense, and separately names a large pallet-sized shipping box.
Common mistake
As a first name it fell out of fashion once the word gained its slang meaning — context makes clear which sense is meant.
Word Forms
more gaylord comparative, gaylords plural, gaylords plural, most gaylord superlative
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Etymology
From the Old French surname Gaillard, meaning roughly "strong" or "lively"; over time English speakers reread the spelling as if it meant "gay lord," which gave the name its later slang meaning.