Gipsy

or gip·sy

[ jip-see ]

/ ˈdʒɪp si /

Chiefly British

noun, plural Gip·sies, adjective

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

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

Gipsy

/ (ˈdʒɪpsɪ) /

noun plural -sies

(sometimes not capital) a variant spelling of Gypsy

Derived FormsGipsyish, adjectiveGipsydom, nounGipsyhood, nounGipsy-like, adjective

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 FormsGypsydom 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

Word Origin and History for gipsy

gipsy

alternative spelling of 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.