Definition of "gutted"
gutted
adjective
comparative more gutted, superlative most gutted
(not comparable) Eviscerated.
Quotations
The exports, on the whole, in 1815, exceeded those of 1816; but the gutted herrings exported in the latter year exceeded those of the former by 12606½ barrels
1829, Thomas Curtis, editor, The London encyclopaedia, or, Universal dictionary of science, art, literature, and practical mechanics, by the orig. ed. of the Encyclopaedia metropolitana
With the most important parts destroyed (often by fire), removed or rendered useless.
Quotations
(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.
1786, Hannah More, Florio read in The Works of Hannah More, in Four Volumes: Including Several Pieces Never Before Published, Vol. I. (1803)
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.
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
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".
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
(chiefly archaic) Having a gut or guts.
Quotations
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.
1704, Jonathan Swift, A Full and True Account of the Battle Fought last Friday Between the Antient and the Modern Books in St James's Library read in John Hawkesworth The Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, accurately revised In Twelve Volumes, Adorned with Copper-Plates; with Some Account of the Author's Life, and Notes Historical and Explanatory (1755)
He could tell she wanted to cry. "We've made a pact that we are going to try to get into men's basketball, and we're not going to do any of this crying stuff," he reminded her, and she gutted it out.
2006, Karra Porter, Mad Seasons: The Story of the First Women's Professional Basketball League, 1978-1981
(slang) Deeply disappointed or crushed, as by defeat, failure, or loss; let down.
Quotations
Throughout the book he runs the whole gamut of emotion from ‘chuffed' to ‘gutted', while being on the whole (surprisingly, for a fabulously gifted millionaire) more gutted than chuffed, and he cheerfully confesses to a short temper.
2001, Terry Eagleton, Figures of Dissent: Critical Essays on Fish, Spivak, Zizek and Others