Gypsy
[jip-see]
- a member of a nomadic, Caucasoid people of generally swarthy complexion, who migrated originally from India, settling in various parts of Asia, Europe, and, most recently, North America.
- Romany; the language of the Gypsies.
- (lowercase) a person held to resemble a gypsy, especially in physical characteristics or in a traditionally ascribed freedom or inclination to move from place to place.
- (lowercase) Informal. gypsy cab.
- (lowercase) Informal. an independent, usually nonunion trucker, hauler, operator, etc.
- (lowercase) Slang. a chorus dancer, especially in the Broadway theater.
- (lowercase) gyp1(def 4).
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- of or relating to the Gypsies.
- (lowercase) Informal. working independently or without a license: gypsy truckers.
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Origin of Gypsy
1505–15; back formation of gipcyan, aphetic variant of Egyptian, from a belief that Gypsies came originally from Egypt
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for gypsy
Contemporary Examples
I actually found it quite pleasurable, and it prepared me for this strange, gypsy lifestyle of an actor.
Jena Malone’s Long, Strange Trip From Homelessness to Hollywood StardomMarlow Stern
December 22, 2014
The family held together in the gypsy jet stream that is military life.
The son of a schoolteacher and a bookkeeper, Hoskins had gypsy blood in him from his Romani grandmother.
Remembering Bob Hoskins, the Burly British Star of ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit,’ Who Died at 71Lorenza Muñoz
April 30, 2014
With three others, they now constitute the San Miguel Five and play a combination of Afro-Latin, classical, and gypsy jazz.
They arrived in Hollywood when she was 15, and she found that being Gypsy made her cool.
American Gypsies Are a Persecuted Minority That Is Starting to Fight BackNina Strochlic
December 22, 2013
Historical Examples
Gypsy would have nothing to do with her, and sniffed the air with offended dignity.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
Gypsy showed signs of melting, whinnying softly and forgivingly.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
"Sit where you are, girl," commanded the gypsy in sepulchral tones.
Pansy and Pickwick, and the birds and Gypsy, and Methusaleh are all good friends.
I class it with the gypsy, because all who speak it are also acquainted with Romany.
The GypsiesCharles G. Leland
Gypsy
Gipsy
- a member of a people scattered throughout Europe and North America, who maintain a nomadic way of life in industrialized societies. They migrated from NW India from about the 9th century onwards
- (as modifier)a Gypsy fortune-teller
- the language of the Gypsies; Romany
- a person who looks or behaves like a Gypsy
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Word Origin
C16: from Egyptian, since they were thought to have come originally from Egypt
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for gypsy
Gypsy
also gipsy, c.1600, alteration of gypcian, a worn-down Middle English dialectal form of egypcien "Egyptian," from the supposed origin of these people. As an adjective, from 1620s.
Cognate with Spanish Gitano and close in sense to Turkish and Arabic Kipti "gypsy," literally "Coptic;" but in Middle French they were Bohémien (see bohemian), and in Spanish also Flamenco "from Flanders." "The gipsies seem doomed to be associated with countries with which they have nothing to do" [Weekley]. Zingari, the Italian and German name, is of unknown origin. Romany is from the people's own language, a plural adjective form of rom "man." Gipsy is the prefered spelling in England.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper