Date:  Fri, 20 Jan 1995 15:59:46 -0500

From:  Jesse T Sheidlower <jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PANIX.COM>

Subject: Re: 2 pl



>

> On Dennis' note about sexism: Some may find it sexist, but for years

> I've heard groups of adolescent and college women call each other "you

> guys."

> I think. Do I imagine that?



No.



In the _Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang_ (plug, plug)

we have citations for guy 'person of either sex' going back to 1927

(Eugene O'Neill, btw). Though most of these are for the subsense

'a person of either sex regarded as decent, down-to-earth, good company,

etc.', there are several early examples of it being used in direct

address to women. These include:



1932 American Speech VII 401: One girl to others: "Come on, guys."



1942 in Journal Gen. Psych. LXVI (1945) 132: _Guy_...boy, girl,

   student, person....One girl to others: "Come on, you guys."...

   "Guy is used without regard to age [!] or sex.



Best,



Jesse T Sheidlower

Random House Reference

<jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]panix.com>