Gypsy

Gypsy
Gypsy also gipsy, c.1600, alteration of gypcian, a worn-down M.E. dialectal form of egypcien "Egyptian," from the supposed origin of these people. As an adjective, from 1620s.
Cognate with Sp. Gitano and close in sense to Turkish and Arabic Kipti "gypsy," lit. "Coptic;" but in M.Fr. they were Bohémien (see BOHEMIAN (Cf. bohemian)), and in Sp. 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.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Gypsy — (sometimes spelled Gipsy , Gipsey ) is a word used to name, as a blanket term, various unrelated ethnic groups or persons fitting the Gypsy stereotypes. It is usually intended to refer to members of the Roma people.EtymologyThe Oxford English… …   Wikipedia

  • Gypsy — (engl. für „Zigeuner“) bezeichnet neben dieser Bedeutung folgendes: eine Unterart des Jazz, siehe Gypsy Jazz ein Musical, siehe Gypsy (Musical) einen darauf basierenden Film aus dem Jahr 1962, siehe Gypsy (Film) einen Motorradclub, siehe Gypsy MC …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Gypsy — [jip′sē] n. pl. Gypsies [earlier gypcien, short for Egipcien, Egyptian: orig. thought to have come from Egypt] 1. [also g ] a member of a nomadic Caucasoid people with dark skin and black hair, found throughout the world and believed to have… …   English World dictionary

  • Gypsy — Gyp sy a. Pertaining to, or suitable for, gypsies. [1913 Webster] {Gypsy hat}, a woman s or child s broad brimmed hat, usually of straw or felt. {Gypsy winch}, a small winch, which may be operated by a crank, or by a ratchet and pawl through a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gypsy — Gyp sy (j[i^]p s[y^]), n.; pl. {Gypsies} (j[i^]p s[i^]z). [OE. Gypcyan, F. [ e]gyptien Egyptian, gypsy, L. Aegyptius. See {Egyptian}.] [Also spelled {gipsy} and {gypsey}.] 1. One of a vagabond race, whose tribes, coming originally from India,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gypsy — Gypsy, Gipsy The term has both ethnic and general reference: either to a member of dark skinned nomadic people of Hindu origin and associated with Egypt (hence the name) or a person who adopts the same mode of life. The OED gave priority to gipsy …   Modern English usage

  • Gypsy — Gyp sy (j[i^]p s[y^]), v. i. To play the gypsy; to picnic in the woods. Mostly, {Gyp sy*ing}, vb. n. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gypsy — index migrant Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • gypsy — [ʒipsi] adj. et n. ⇒ Gipsy …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • gypsy — (also gipsy) ► NOUN (pl. gypsies) ▪ a member of a travelling people with dark skin and hair, speaking the Romany language. DERIVATIVES gypsyish adjective. ORIGIN originally gipcyan, short for EGYPTIAN(Cf. ↑Egyptian) (because gypsies were believed …   English terms dictionary

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