Gypsy

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Gyp·sy

also Gip·sy (jĭp′sē)

n. pl. Gyp·sies also Gip·sies

1. Often Offensive

a. See Romani.

b. The Romani language.

2. A member of any of various traditionally itinerant groups unrelated to the Romani.

3. gypsy One who follows an itinerant or otherwise unconventional career or way of life, especially:

a. A part-time or temporary member of a college faculty.

b. A member of the chorus line in a theater production.

[Alteration of Middle English gypcian, short for Egipcien, Egyptian (so called because the Romani people were thought to have come from Egypt).]

Gypsy

(ˈdʒɪpsɪ) or

Gipsy

n (sometimes not capital) , pl -sies

1. (Peoples)

a. 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

b. (as modifier): a Gypsy fortune-teller.

2. (Languages) the language of the Gypsies; Romany

3. a person who looks or behaves like a Gypsy

[C16: from Egyptian, since they were thought to have come originally from Egypt]

ˈGypsydom, ˈGipsydom n

ˈGypsyˌhood, ˈGipsyˌhood n

ˈGypsyish, ˈGipsyish adj

ˈGypsy-ˌlike, ˈGipsy-ˌlike adj

Gyp•sy

(ˈdʒɪp si)

n., pl. -sies,
adj. n.

1. a member of a traditionally itinerant people, orig. of N India, now residing mostly in permanent communities in many countries of the world.

2. Romany (def. 1).

3. (l.c.) a person who resembles the stereotype of a Gypsy, as in appearance or itinerant way of life.

4. (l.c.) Informal. gypsy cab.

5. (l.c.) Informal. an independent, usu. nonunion trucker, operator, etc.

6. (l.c.) a chorus dancer, esp. in the Broadway theater.

adj.

7. of or pertaining to the Gypsies.

8. (l.c.) Informal. working independently or without a license: gypsy truckers.

Also, esp. Brit., Gipsy, gipsy.

[1505–15; back formation from gipcyan, aph. variant of Egyptian, from the belief that Gypsies came orig. from Egypt]

Gyp′sy•ish, adj.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	gypsy - a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment; "itinerant traders" gipsy, itinerant laborer, labourer, manual laborer, jack - someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor swagger, swaggie, swagman - an itinerant Australian laborer who carries his personal belongings in a bundle as he travels around in search of work tinker - formerly a person (traditionally a Gypsy) who traveled from place to place mending pots and kettles and other metal utensils as a way to earn a living
	2.	Gypsy - a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling; they are believed to have originated in northern India but now are living on all continents (but mostly in Europe, North Africa, and North America) Roma, Romani, Romany, Rommany, Bohemian, Gipsy Indian - a native or inhabitant of India gitana - a Spanish female Gypsy gitano - a Spanish male Gypsy
	3.	Gypsy - the Indic language of the Gypsies Romany Sanskrit, Sanskritic language - (Hinduism) an ancient language of India (the language of the Vedas and of Hinduism); an official language of India although it is now used only for religious purposes

Gypsy

Gipsy

noun traveller, roamer, wanderer, Bohemian, rover, rambler, nomad, vagrant, Romany, vagabond the largest community of Gypsies of any country

Translations

غَجَرِيّ

cikáncikánskýcikánština

sigøjner

Zigeuner Zigeunerin

τσιγγάνος ατσίγγανος τσιγγάνα

gitano zíngaro cíngaro gitana

mustalainenromani

gitan tsigane tzigane bohémien

Rom

cigányroma

sígauna-sígauni

zingaro zingaresca

ジプシー

집시

čigonasčigoniškasčigonų

čigānsčigānu-

zigeuner

rom sigøyner

Cygan

cigano rom romani cigana

цыган цыганка цыганский

cigáncigánsky

cigan

zigenare

ชาวยิปซี

çingene

dân gypsy

吉普赛人

gypsy

[ˈdʒɪpsɪ]

A. N → gitano/a m/f

B. CPD [life, caravan, music] → gitano
gypsy moth N → lagarta f

gypsy

n → Zigeuner(in) m(f) (neg!)

adj

(= Romany) → Zigeuner- (neg!), → Roma-; gypsy child → Zigeunerkind nt (neg!); gypsy woman → Zigeunerin f (neg!); gypsy camp → Zigeunerlager nt (neg!); gypsy music → Zigeunermusik f

(US, pej, = unofficial) cab, driver → illegal

gypsy

gipsy [ˈdʒɪpsɪ]

1. n → zingaro/a

2. adj (life) → da zingaro, zingaresco/a; (caravan) → degli zingari; (music) → zigano/a

gypsy,

gipsy

(ˈdʒipsi) – plurals ˈgypsies ~ˈgipsies – noun

a member of a race of wandering people.

adjective

a gypsy caravan.

Gypsy

→ غَجَرِيّ cikán sigøjner Zigeuner τσιγγάνος gitano mustalainen gitan Rom zingaro ジプシー 집시 zigeuner rom Cygan cigano цыган zigenare ชาวยิปซี çingene dân gypsy 吉普赛人

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

That was by no means a new idea to Maggie; she had been so often told she was like a gypsy, and "half wild," that when she was miserable it seemed to her the only way of escaping opprobrium, and being entirely in harmony with circumstances, would be to live in a little brown tent on the commons; the gypsies, she considered, would gladly receive her and pay her much respect on account of her superior knowledge.

But it was startling to find the gypsies in a lane, after all, and not on a common; indeed, it was rather disappointing; for a mysterious illimitable common, where there were sand-pits to hide in, and one was out of everybody's reach, had always made part of Maggie's picture of gypsy life.

An old gypsy woman was seated on the ground nursing her knees, and occasionally poking a skewer into the round kettle that sent forth an odorous steam; two small shock-headed children were lying prone and resting on their elbows something like small sphinxes; and a placid donkey was bending his head over a tall girl, who, lying on her back, was scratching his nose and indulging him with a bite of excellent stolen hay.

I'm come from home because I'm unhappy, and I mean to be a gypsy.

View in context

Me doubt not, sir, but you have often seen some of my people, who are what you call de parties detache: for dey go about everywhere; but me fancy you imagine not we be so considrable body as we be; and may be you will be surprize more when you hear de gypsy be as orderly and well govern people as any upon face of de earth.

About a tousand or two tousand year ago, me cannot tell to a year or two, as can neider write nor read, dere was a great what you call--a volution among de gypsy; for dere was de lord gypsy in dose days; and dese lord did quarrel vid one anoder about de place; but de king of de gypsy did demolish dem all, and made all his subject equal vid each oder; and since dat time dey have agree very well; for dey no tink of being king, and may be it be better for dem as dey be; for me assure you it be ver troublesome ting to be king, and always to do justice; me have often wish to be de private gypsy when me have been forced to punish my dear friend and relation; for dough we never put to death, our punishments be ver severe.

Now, when they were alone together in a remote part of the barn, whether it proceeded from the strong liquor, which is never so apt to inflame inordinate desire as after moderate fatigue; or whether the fair gypsy herself threw aside the delicacy and decency of her sex, and tempted the youth Partridge with express solicitations; but they were discovered in a very improper manner by the husband of the gypsy, who, from jealousy it seems, had kept a watchful eye over his wife, and had dogged her to the place, where he found her in the arms of her gallant.

His Egyptian majesty then addressed himself to the husband as follows: "Me be sorry to see any gypsy dat have no more honour dan to sell de honour of his wife for money.

View in context

She began her dance once more; she took from the ground two swords, whose points she rested against her brow, and which she made to turn in one direction, while she turned in the other; it was a purely gypsy effect.

He kept them fixed incessantly on the gypsy, and, while the giddy young girl of sixteen danced and whirled, for the pleasure of all, his revery seemed to become more and more sombre.

It was that of the bald man, who never removed his eyes from the gypsy.

View in context

And the prince with surprising ease fell in with the Russian spirit, smashed trays full of crockery, sat with a gypsy girl on his knee, and seemed to be asking--what more, and does the whole Russian spirit consist in just this?