# What does the G in G-string stand for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [November 7, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870 "2003-11-07T12:42:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LFenwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4af34b/32.png) [@LFenwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LFenwick)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/1 "2003-11-07T12:42:06Z")
I was always under the impression that is stood for the Grafenberg area, or G-spot, as in Dr. Ernst Grafenberg’s research findings—?😉 * * * Link to column: [What does the G in G-string stand for?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_296b.html) – CKDH ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/2 "2003-11-07T14:08:14Z")
Nope, sorry. 😉 It predates the good Doctor. > **[Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's most-trusted online dictionary](https://www.merriam-webster.com/)** > > The dictionary by Merriam-Webster is America's most trusted online dictionary for English word definitions, meanings, and pronunciation. #wordsmatter > [@](#): > > Etymology: origin unknown > Date: 1878 > : a strip of cloth passed between the legs and supported by a waist cord that is worn especially by striptease dancers [http://www.etymonline.com/g5etym.htm](http://www.etymonline.com/g5etym.htm) > [@](#): > > G-string - 1878, geestring, “loincloth worn by American Indian,” originally the string that holds it up, etymology unknown. The spelling with G (1891) is perhaps from influence of violin string tuned to a G (in this sense G string is first recorded 1831). First used of women’s attire 1936, with reference to strip-teasers. ---
**Author:** ![biscuit314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@biscuit314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biscuit314)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/3 "2003-11-07T14:40:18Z")
On a 12-string guitar, the high G string is the thinnest of the lot. Is this the inspiration for the name of the female apparel in question, given its prime feature is its thinness? ---
**Author:** ![ksweetman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@ksweetman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ksweetman)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/4 "2003-11-07T14:56:14Z")
I think it has to do with gravity and string theory, ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/5 "2003-11-07T15:38:20Z")
> [@](#): > > I think it has to do with gravity and string theory, Har! Physics humor! It’s all quantum. RR ---
**Author:** ![Twin\_Tattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Twin\_Tattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twin_Tattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/6 "2003-11-07T16:27:04Z")
How about genitalia? That’s about the only thing it really covers up. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/7 "2003-11-07T18:43:13Z")
Welcome to the Straight Dope. Here’s Cecil’s column on this question. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_296b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_296b.html) ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/8 "2003-11-08T02:09:23Z")
The G string is the lowest and thickest of the violin strings. But on a modern wire-strung violin, it’s really the only one you could possibly wear without risk of injury. I was going to remark that “G String” must be older than 1831, because of “Bach’s Air for the G String”, but I see that Bach didn’t write the one-string arrangement of his tune. Given the earlier “geestring” spelling and meaning (and the fact that the striptease, properly so called, originated only in the 1890’s), I wonder whether it also influenced “jockstrap”. ---
**Author:** ![rebelbuttmunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@rebelbuttmunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rebelbuttmunch)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/9 "2003-11-10T13:37:17Z")
is it a coincidence that a womans ‘parts’ is called a GEE where I come from, Ireland? Gee (pronounced with a hard G like Golf) ---
**Author:** ![biscuit314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@biscuit314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biscuit314)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/10 "2003-11-10T13:48:02Z")
The first time I ever saw those parts, my reaction was to say, “Gee” (pronounced with a soft G as in giraffe) Of course I speaking of those parts of Ireland… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/11 "2003-11-10T13:55:11Z")
“Geestring” looks hilarious, given what **rebelbuttmunch** points out is its meaning here. Could there be any connection? What’s the etymology of the Irish slang? (And how we laughed when we went to an Indian restaurant and the waiter asked me if I wanted ghee on my nan bread…!) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/12 "2003-11-10T14:35:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Given the earlier “geestring” spelling and meaning (and the fact that the striptease, properly so called, originated only in the 1890’s), I wonder whether it also influenced “jockstrap”. Probably not, **John**. “Jock” to mean the penis is cited as early as the 1700’s. ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/13 "2003-11-10T18:07:29Z")
Does Cecil have any evidence for his geestring=whip theory? He doesn’t seem to quote any. And if he doesn’t, isn’t the whole thing just wild speculation? [Ask Yahoo](http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20030515.html) reckons it comes from an American Indian word for an item of clothing, “geestringi”. [Here](http://www.takeourword.com/TOW131/page2.html)’s another cite for that theory, which attributes it to Sioux or other Plains Indians. I have to take issue with the “Gee! String!” explanation too. If you see a girl in a g-string, the last thing you’ll be commenting on is the string. ---
**Author:** ![beefymeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@beefymeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beefymeg)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/14 "2003-11-10T20:18:32Z")
IANA Horseperson, but I thought that “Gee” made a horse turn right, not accelerate as Cecil mentions. What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![SAustinTx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@SAustinTx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SAustinTx)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/15 "2003-11-10T20:47:58Z")
I’ve always heard that it referred to “groin string” and that this was pretty much established. I guess from the fact that no one else has mentioned it as even a possibility must mean I’m mistaken. Or not? Jeremy Ulrey Austin, TX ---
**Author:** ![crywalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crywalt/32/3224_2.png) [@crywalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crywalt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/16 "2003-11-11T03:12:42Z")
I really don’t understand why the G in G-string _can’t_ stand for “genitals” or “groin.” So I’m asking with Jeremy: Any reason why not? – Chris. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/17 "2003-11-11T03:52:49Z")
> [@](#): > > I really don’t understand why the G in G-string can’t stand for “genitals” or “groin.” > > So I’m asking with Jeremy: Any reason why not? Because the kind of person who would have coined “G-string” or “geestring” on that basis would have done it in writing, with an explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/18 "2003-11-11T05:11:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by beefymeg \* > IANA Horseperson, but I thought that “Gee” made a horse turn right, not accelerate as Cecil mentions. What’s up with that? “Gee” is right and “Haw” is left. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/19 "2003-11-11T07:33:23Z")
G = gyn(a,e,o) female G-string = a string worn by women esp. in semi-nude dance clubs true? maybe makes sense to me **HawString** = H-string Haw = left H-string = reason for all-nude dance clubs true? That’s what I’ve been told. I asked a girl at the bar why she was the only full nude dancer…she said she forgot to wear her G-string. So, I tipped her good and plenty. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scipio\_Africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@Scipio\_Africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scipio_Africanus)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870/20 "2003-11-11T10:48:38Z")
The Irish slang “gee” would seem to derive from “gash”, although there are people who’d say it comes from Irish. I don’t think so though. That would have been my guess for the origin of the term “g-string” as well… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870.md?page=2)