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giant

/ˈd͡ʒaɪ.ənt/ noun

In Latin: gigas Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about giant at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Any creature of exceptional size.
  2. A person of exceptional importance and reputation.
  3. An unusually large enterprise.
    Walton built a retail giant

adjective

  1. Of great mass; huge and bulky.
    a jumbo jet

Origin

From Middle English geaunt, geant, from Old French geant, gaiant (Modern French géant) from Vulgar Latin *gagās, gagant-, from Latin gigās, gigant-, from Ancient Greek γίγας (gígas, “giant”). Cognate to giga- (“1,000,000,000”). Largely Displaced native Old English ent (“giant”), Old English eoten (“giant or jötunn”), and Old English þyrs (“giant or ogre”). Compare English ent (“giant tree-man”), ettin (“giant or troll”) and thurse (“giant”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)