Gypsy

[ jip-see ]
/ ˈdʒɪp si /

noun, plural Gyp·sies.

adjective

of or relating to the Gypsies.
(lowercase) Informal. working independently or without a license: gypsy truckers.
Also especially British, Gipsy, gipsy.

Origin of Gypsy

1505–15; back formation of gipcyan, aphetic variant of Egyptian, from a belief that Gypsies came originally from Egypt

OTHER WORDS FROM Gypsy

Example sentences from the Web for gypsies

British Dictionary definitions for gypsies

Gypsy

Gipsy

/ (ˈdʒɪpsɪ) /

noun plural -sies (sometimes not capital)

  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
the language of the Gypsies; Romany
a person who looks or behaves like a Gypsy

Derived forms of Gypsy

Gypsydom or Gipsydom, noun Gypsyhood or Gipsyhood, noun Gypsyish or Gipsyish, adjective Gypsy-like or Gipsy-like, adjective

Word Origin for Gypsy

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

Cultural definitions for gypsies

Gypsies

A nomadic people who originated in the region between India and Iran and who migrated to Europe in the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Most now live in Europe and the United States. Their language is called Romany. Thousands were murdered in the holocaust.

notes for Gypsies

One who lives a footloose, carefree life is sometimes called a gypsy.