Definitions For Gunsel

Etymology 1

From , from , diminutive of gans, t=goose.

Noun

GUNSEL (plural GUNSELs) (slang, dated) : a young man kept by an elder as a (usually passive) homosexual partner. (slang, dated) : a passive partner in a male homosexual relationship. (prison, _, slang, dated) : a man forced or coerced into a homosexual relationship.

Synonyms

See thesaurus:male homosexual

Etymology 2

By misunderstanding of the 1929 Maltese Falcon quotation above (which survived in a popular 1941 film adaptation). The novel was originally serialized in a magazine, , whose editor refused to allow vulgarities. Hammett used the word , gunsel knowing that the editor would likely misunderstand it as relating to gun, and therefore allow it.William Safire, “” (On Language column, 2000 April 30), in The New York Times; relevant portion also in The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time, Simon and Schuster (2004), , .Michael Quinion, “” (World Wide Words piece, 2006 August 12).