Meaning

noun any creature of exceptional size

noun a person of exceptional importance and reputation

noun an unusually large enterprise

originFrom Middle English geaunt, geant, from Old French geant, gaiant (Modern French géant) from Vulgar Latin *gagās, gagant-, from Latin gigās, gigant-, from Ancient Greek γίγας (gígas, “giant”). Cognate to giga- (“1,000,000,000”). Displaced native Old English ent, eoten, and þyrs. Compare Modern English ent (“giant tree-man”), ettin ("a giant"), and thurse ("a giant").

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0