Definition

Proper noun 1. Historical figure: An English conspirator, executed for his role in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a failed attempt to assassinate King James I and blow up the House of Lords. 2. Symbolic figure: The effigy traditionally burned on a bonfire on Guy Fawkes Night (November 5th) in the UK.

Usage Examples

• As a historical figure:
  • Guy Fawkes was caught guarding barrels of gunpowder beneath the Houses of Parliament.
  • The plot led by Guy Fawkes is remembered every year on November 5th.
• As a symbolic effigy:
  • The children made a Guy Fawkes out of old clothes and stuffed it with newspaper.
  • They put the Guy Fawkes on top of the bonfire.

Advanced Usage

• "Guy Fawkes Night" (also "Bonfire Night" or "Fireworks Night"): The annual commemoration on November 5th, involving bonfires, fireworks, and the burning of an effigy.
  • We're going to a fireworks display for Guy Fawkes Night.
• "Remember, remember the fifth of November...": The first line of a traditional English rhyme that recounts the Gunpowder Plot.

Variants and Related Words

• Guy (noun, chiefly British): A colloquial term for a man or person. (Etymologically derived from the name Guy Fawkes, via the tradition of making an effigy or "guy").
  • He's a nice guy.
• Gunpowder Plot (proper noun): The name of the conspiracy in which Guy Fawkes was involved.

Synonyms

• Conspirator (for the historical role).
• Effigy (for the symbolic representation).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Penny for the Guy": A traditional phrase associated with children asking for money in the days before Guy Fawkes Night, often while displaying their homemade effigy.
  • The children stood on the corner with their Guy, calling out "Penny for the Guy!"

Noun

1. English conspirator who was executed for his role in a plot to blow up James I and the Houses of Parliament (1570-1606)