Gipsy
or gip·sy
Gypsy
- 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).
- of or relating to the Gypsies.
- (lowercase) Informal. working independently or without a license: gypsy truckers.
Origin of Gypsy
Examples from the Web for gipsy
Historical Examples
They were not sure whether she were most Saracen, gipsy, or Jew.
The Armourer's PrenticesCharlotte M. Yonge
Again I saw the dark, absorbed face of the gipsy as he studied my future.
Ruggles of Red GapHarry Leon Wilson
It was like a gipsy's shed, where everything had to be done in common.
His MasterpieceEmile Zola
Well, do you know I always thought I should love a gipsy life.
The ChristianHall Caine
Some say his father was an Englishman, some say a Jew, and some say his mother was a gipsy.
The Eternal CityHall Caine
Gipsy
- (sometimes not capital) a variant spelling of Gypsy
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
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for 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.