Giro

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Giro

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

JY-roh  /ˈdʒʌɪrəʊ/

Definition

A system of transferring money directly between bank accounts; (British informal) a welfare benefit payment, formerly made by postal giro cheque.

Plain meaning

A giro is a bank transfer payment system — or in British informal use, the welfare benefit cheque that people once collected from the post office.

Register

Technical in banking and finance contexts. Working-class and informal in British vernacular — the giro in everyday speech means the benefit payment. Now somewhat dated as electronic transfer has replaced paper giro systems.