Name of an early saint, from Middle English George, from Latin Geōrgius, from Ancient Greek Γεώργῐος (Geṓrgĭos), from γεωργός (geōrgós, “farmer, earth worker”), from γῆ (gê, “earth”) (combining form γεω- (geō-)) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”) Doublet of Jorge and Geevarghese.
The aircraft autopilot sense is probably from George DeBeeson, who patented an early (1931) autopilot system, and/or a reference to the expression let George do it. The Pullman porter sense derives from George Pullman, who hired Black people to staff his sleeping cars, and the patrons of the service seeing the Black people as servants of George Porter, much like how a slave was named after the master.
Meanings
(archaic, slang) A coin bearing King George's profile.
Take the Georges, Pew, and don’t stand here squalling. 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
(qualifier:World War II era; joint US/RAF; World War II era; joint US/RAF) radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter G.
A jewelled figure of St George slaying the dragon, worn by Knights of the Garter.
[…] the King appears to be wearing a George containing the motto inside the gems, as it is in the jewel at Windsor. 1908, Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, A History of the George Worn on the Scaffold by Charles I, page 93:
Name of an early saint, from Middle English George, from Latin Geōrgius, from Ancient Greek Γεώργῐος (Geṓrgĭos), from γεωργός (geōrgós, “farmer, earth worker”), from γῆ (gê, “earth”) (combining form γεω- (geō-)) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”) Doublet of Jorge and Geevarghese.
The aircraft autopilot sense is probably from George DeBeeson, who patented an early (1931) autopilot system, and/or a reference to the expression let George do it. The Pullman porter sense derives from George Pullman, who hired Black people to staff his sleeping cars, and the patrons of the service seeing the Black people as servants of George Porter, much like how a slave was named after the master.
Meanings
A male given name from Ancient Greek.
George Soros remains a favorite target of conservative conspiracy theorists, seeing his corrupting influence behind every liberal movement and within every nook and cranny. 2020 November 18, Brian Lowry, “‘Soros’ looks at the life and activism of the right’s favorite bogeyman”, in CNN, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2026:
“In light of the current state of our country, I struggled to find the right words of wisdom for you today,” Obama says in her lengthiest public remarks to date about the protests taking place in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. 2020 June 7, Kate Bennett, “Michelle Obama to 2020 graduates: ‘For those of you who feel invisible: Please know that your story matters’”, in CNN, archived from the original on 23 Feb 2026:
George... don't do that! 1977, Joyce Grenfell, Nursery School::
Our ancient word of courage faire saint George / Inspire vs with the spleene of fierie Dragons, c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 203:
George and Charles are unlucky in this respect; they have no diminutives, and what a mouthful of monosyllables they are! names royal too, and therefore unshortened. A king must be of a very rare class who could afford to be called by shorthand; 1830, Mary Russell Mitford, Our Village: Fourth Series: Cottage Names::
An English and Welsh surname originating as a patronymic.
A French surname originating as a patronymic.
A German surname originating as a patronymic, a variant of Georg.
A surname from Irish [in turn originating as a patronymic], an anglicization of Seoirse.
A diminutive of the female given names Georgina and Georgia; also used in the conjoined name George Ann(e).
2004, George Sargent Janes Leubuscher, Douglas W. Patton, A Girl Named George: My First Hundred Years
Roy Davis Stubbs, Eatonton, Judge. Son of Robert D. and Maud (Middleton) Stubbs. [...] Married Miss George Smith Feb. 14, 1918 in Knoxville, Tenn. 1925, [US state of] Georgia's Official Register, page 100:
(slang) The autopilot of an aircraft.
I relied on "George" and "Fred"—the autopilot and the flight director—to fly the airplane while I worked my way through […] 1993, Flying, volume 120, page 73:
"'George rides in the back, aft of the baggage compartment,” said Aviation Sales Manager, John Brophy, with a smile as he climbed out. […] I switched on the autopilot and turned the turn knob to the left to get the turn-bank indicator to show a one-needle turn. Instantly, George rolled the Cessna into a smooth 10° bank to the left. 1956, Flying Magazine, volume 59, number 6, page 33:
(Canada, US, dated, slang) Generic name for a Pullman porter.
A city in the Western Cape province, South Africa; named for George III of the United Kingdom.
A locale in the United States. ▸ A city in Lyon County, Iowa; named for the son of a railroad official.
A locale in the United States. ▸ A minor city in Grant County, Washington; named for George Washington, 1st president of the United States.
A locale in the United States. ▸ A ghost town in Franklin County, Missouri; named for postmaster Stephen H. George.
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