Gigolo
/ˈdʒɪɡ.ə.loʊ/noun
A man who is paid to accompany or entertain a woman, especially as a lover.
Did you know?Its earliest French sense was tied to a dancer or mummer, and English only later narrowed it to a kept man—proof that words can drift from performance into scandal.
Etymological Timeline
Middle French
FR
gigolo
“A dancer or mummer; later, a man who dances professionally”
Late 16th Century
FR
gigoler
“To dance, skip, or move in a lively way”
Obscure older origin
?
gig-
“Likely expressive or imitative in origin, connected with jerky movement”
Early 20th Century
EN
gigolo
“A man supported by a woman in exchange for companionship or sexual attention”
Modern English
EN
gigolo
“A man who is paid to accompany or entertain a woman”