gussy

[guhs-ee] /ˈgʌs i/
verb (used with object), gussied, gussying.
1.
to enhance the attractiveness of in a gimmicky, showy manner (usually followed by up):
a room gussied up with mirrors and lights.
verb (used without object), gussied, gussying.
2.
to dress in one's best clothes (usually followed by up):
to gussy up for the ball.
Origin
1935-40; of obscure origin
British Dictionary definitions for gussy up

gussy up

/ˈɡʌsɪ/
verb (transitive, adverb) -sies, -sying, -sied
1.
(slang, mainly US) to give (a person or thing) a smarter or more interesting appearance
Word Origin
C20: probably from the name Gussie, diminutive of Augusta
Word Origin and History for gussy up

gussy

v.

"to dress up or decorate in a showy way," 1952, American English slang, apparently from Gussy (1940), schoolyard slang name for an overly dressed person, perhaps related to gussie (1901) "effeminate man," and somehow connected to the nickname for Augusta and Augustus.

Slang definitions & phrases for gussy up

gussy up

verb phrase
  1. To dress in one's best clothes; adorn oneself; doll up
  2. To clean or make neat: The freak had the little apartment all gussied up
  3. To decorate or elaborate on a plain design
  4. To refurbish, renovate; polish: They're gussying up the same old tiredness
  5. To decorate; make fancy: It resembled a gussied-up Studebaker

[late 1940s+; origin unknown; perhaps fr gusset, a triangular insert that might be used to prettify a dress; perhaps fr someone or some place named Augusta]