Git is a relatively mild British slang term, used to denote a silly, incompetent, stupid, annoying, or childish person. It is usually used as an insult, more severe than twit but less severe than a true profanity like wanker or arsehole, and may often be used affectionately between friends. In some southern U.S. states, it is a shortened form of midget, used to denote a short person. The word git first appeared in print in 1946, but undoubtedly predates it. It is originally an alteration of the word 'get', dating back to the 14th century. A shortening of 'beget', 'get' insinuates that the recipient is someone's misbegotten offspring and therefore a bastard. In parts of northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland 'get' is still used in preference to 'git'. 'Git' is frequently used in conjunction with another word to achieve a more specific meaning. For instance a "smarmy git" refers to a person of a slimy, ingratiating disposition; a "jammy git" would be a person with undeserved luck. The phrase "grumpy old git", denoting a cantankerous old man, is used with particular frequency. The word was often used in the sitcom Til Death Us Do Part where Warren Mitchell as Alf Garnett would frequently describe his son-in-law played by Tony Booth as a "Scouse git". Micky Dolenz penned the Monkees song "Randy Scouse Git" on the Headquarters album after hearing the term on the programme. The group's British record company at the time felt uncomfortable with the use of the word so the song was issued as "Alternate Title" in the United Kingdom. John Lennon also uses it in the Beatles White Album song, "I'm So Tired." He says, "And curse Sir Walter Raleigh, He was such a stupid get," using the archaic version to rhyme with "cigarette." The word was used self-deprecatingly by Linus Torvalds in naming the git source control package.
External links
- "Git" in the online etymology dictionary.
- Michael Quinion. World Wide Words: Git. A more detailed etymology.
