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 gypsies
Contemporary Examples
The 200 other Roma, known pejoratively as “gypsies,” had fled the camp by Monday, police told French media.
In Europe today, walls are going up everywhere to keep the Roma, also known as ‘gypsies’, firmly shut out.
It begins: “The gypsies are coming, the old people say, To buy little children and take them away.”
American Gypsies Are a Persecuted Minority That Is Starting to Fight BackNina Strochlic
December 22, 2013
"I've no time for the Roma gypsies," said one who was cleaning his car.
Sometimes he snuck out to watch the gypsies down by the tracks, or to walk through the cemetery, sit on a grave.
Historical Examples
"I guess they think we're gypsies," said Hattie, as one carriage rolled past.
Meadow GrassAlice Brown
Jack Nuffles—I met him here tonight—says they are gypsies—where are they, I wonder?
The Room in the Dragon VolantJ. Sheridan LeFanu
Like the gypsies of old, but with vastly more territory to roam.
It was about the gypsies, who camp near our place every year.
What number of Gypsies are there computed to be in the county?
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 gypsies
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
Gypsies
Note
One who lives a footloose, carefree life is sometimes called a gypsy.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.