Gypsy

[jip-see] /ˈdʒɪp si/
noun, plural Gypsies.
1.
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.
2.
Romany; the language of the Gypsies.
3.
(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.
4.
(lowercase) Informal. gypsy cab.
5.
(lowercase) Informal. an independent, usually nonunion trucker, hauler, operator, etc.
6.
(lowercase) Slang. a chorus dancer, especially in the Broadway theater.
7.
(lowercase) gyp1 (def 4).
adjective
8.
of or pertaining to the Gypsies.
9.
(lowercase) Informal. working independently or without a license:
gypsy truckers.
Also, especially British, Gipsy, gipsy.
Origin
1505-15; back formation of gipcyan, aphetic variant of Egyptian, from a belief that Gypsies came originally from Egypt
Related forms
gypsydom, noun
gypsyesque, gypsyish, gypsylike, gypseian, adjective
gypsyhood, noun
gypsyism, noun
non-Gypsy, noun, plural non-Gypsies.
British Dictionary definitions for Gypsy

Gypsy

/ˈdʒɪpsɪ/
noun (sometimes not capital) (pl) -sies
1.
  1. 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
  2. (as modifier): a Gypsy fortune-teller
2.
the language of the Gypsies; Romany
3.
a person who looks or behaves like a Gypsy
Derived Forms
Gypsydom, Gipsydom, noun
Gypsyhood, Gipsyhood, noun
Gypsyish, Gipsyish, adjective
Gypsy-like, Gipsy-like, adjective
Word Origin
C16: from Egyptian, since they were thought to have come originally from Egypt
Word Origin and History for 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.

Slang definitions & phrases for Gypsy

gypsy

noun
  1. gypsy cab (1940s+)
  2. A truck driven by its owner rather than a union driver (1942+ Truckers)
verb

To make a risky bet or call: You will find players consistently gypsying, flat-calling with kings up or less (1940s+ Gambling); (1950s+)


Gypsy in Technology


Specification and verification of concurrent systems software. Message passing using named mailboxes. Separately compilable units: routine (procedure, function, or process), type and constant definition, each with a list of access rights.
["Report on the Language Gypsy", A.L. Ambler et al, UT Austin ICSCS-CMP-1976-08-1].