Definition of "gutted" in English

adjective

1. (not comparable) Eviscerated.

2. With the most important parts destroyed (often by fire), removed or rendered useless.

   • (referring to the practice of newspapers removing all intermediate vowels from the names of people about whom they were making potentially libelous statements, as eg Fl-r-o, compare 1714 cite of past participle, below) For he to keep him from the vapours, /Subscribed at Hookham's, saw the papers; /Was deep in poet's-corner wit; /Knew what was in italics writ; /Explain'd fictitious names at will, /Each gutted syllable cou'd fill; /There oft, in paragraphs, his name /Gave symptom sweet of growing fame.
   • 1841, "An intelligent gentleman of Berwick" quoted in Charles Ellms, The Tragedy of the Seas; Or, Sorrow on the Ocean, Lake, and River, from Shipwreck, Plague, Fire and Famine We have this day paid a visit to the wreck, which is lying in much the same state that it was, only somewhat more gutted by the occasional dashing of the billows amongst its timber and planks.
   • 2006, John W. Quist, An Occasionally Dry State Surrounded by Water: Temperance and Prohibition in Antebellum Michigan read in Paul Finkelman, Martin Hershock (eds), History of Michigan Law Recognizing by late April that the new law was gutted beyond repair, the Michigan State Temperance Society urged prohibitionists to interrogate every every political candidate on this issue and to vote only for those who would "publicly pledge" to support "the passage and enforcement of [another] law".

3. (chiefly archaic) Having a gut or guts.

   • Having spoke thus, she took the ugliest of her monsters, full gutted from her spleen, and flung it invisibly into his mouth, which, flying straight up into his head, squeezed out his eye-balls, gave him a distorted look, and half overturned his brain.

4. (slang) Deeply disappointed or crushed, as by defeat, failure, or loss; let down.

   • 2004, "Bobbins", quoted in Justine Roberts, Mums on Pregnancy: Trade Secrets from the Real Experts The thing I was most gutted about was that I had planned to finish knitting a patchwork cot blanket. It never did get finished.

verb

1. simple past and past participle of gut