Gipsy

or gip·sy

[ jip-see ]

/ ˈdʒɪp si /

Chiefly British

noun, plural Gip·sies, adjective

Gypsy.

Related forms

gip·sy·dom, noungip·sy·esque, gip·sy·ish, gip·sy·like, gip·se·ian, adjectivegip·sy·hood, noungip·sy·ism, noun

Definition for gipsy (2 of 2)

Gypsy

[ jip-see ]

/ ˈdʒɪp si /

noun, plural Gyp·sies.

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).

adjective

of or relating to the Gypsies.

(lowercase) Informal. working independently or without a license: gypsy truckers.

Also especially British, Gipsy, gipsy.

Origin of Gypsy

1505–15; back formation of gipcyan, aphetic variant of Egyptian, from a belief that Gypsies came originally from Egypt

Related forms

gyp·sy·dom, noungyp·sy·esque, gyp·sy·ish, gyp·sy·like, gyp·se·ian, adjectivegyp·sy·hood, noungyp·sy·ism, noun

non-Gyp·sy, noun, plural non-Gyp·sies.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gipsy

He and Gipsy are this moment devouring my lady's marmalade in the closet.
The Beaux-Stratagem|George Farquhar
The sight for a moment left Gipsy's eyes, and her very heart ceased beating.
Sharing Her Crime|May Agnes Fleming
The last Polish Krolestvo cyganskie or Gipsy king died in 1790.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 1|Various
Sometimes she goes about like an old peasant or gipsy—no one knows how old she really is!
Fairies Afield|Mary Louisa Molesworth

All availed him nothing; she still followed him, and reiterated the piteous cry, ‘Pray remember poor Martha, the gipsy.’
Prophecies of Robert Nixon, Mother Shipton, and Martha, the Gypsy|Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for gipsy (1 of 2)

Gipsy

/ (ˈdʒɪpsɪ) /

noun plural -sies

(sometimes not capital) a variant spelling of Gypsy

Derived Forms

Gipsyish, adjectiveGipsydom, nounGipsyhood, nounGipsy-like, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for gipsy (2 of 2)

Gypsy

Gipsy

/ (ˈdʒɪpsɪ) /

noun plural -sies (sometimes not capital)

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

Derived Forms

Gypsydom or Gipsydom, nounGypsyhood or Gipsyhood, nounGypsyish or Gipsyish, adjectiveGypsy-like or Gipsy-like, adjective

Word Origin for Gypsy

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