Gypsy

[ jip-see ]

/ ˈdʒɪp si /

noun, plural Gyp·sies.

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).

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

gyp·sy·dom, noun gyp·sy·esque, gyp·sy·ish, gyp·sy·like, gyp·se·ian, adjective gyp·sy·hood, noun gyp·sy·ism, noun

non-Gyp·sy, noun, plural non-Gyp·sies.

Example sentences from the Web for gypsy

They ran into some girls they knew, and after that all the 'Gypsy' was good for was a place to eat and sleep in.

Uncle Terry |Charles Clark Munn
When the irrepressible owner of the 'Gypsy' had deserted her, Albert returned to the Cape and remained there for a week.

Uncle Terry |Charles Clark Munn
He is more devoted to me than a brother, and we have made a lot of plans for a month's outing on the 'Gypsy' this coming summer.

Uncle Terry |Charles Clark Munn
"Frank, there is the very pan 'Gypsy Joe' used when he was hunting for gold in our creek," Jack explained, pointing ahead.

The Ranch Girls' Pot of Gold |Margaret Vandercook

Not that it really was nearly as 'gypsy' as we would have liked it to be, or as we thought we would have liked it to be!

The House That Grew |Mrs. Molesworth

British Dictionary definitions for gypsy

Gypsy

Gipsy

/ (ˈdʒɪpsɪ) /

noun plural -sies (sometimes not capital)

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

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

Gypsy

noun, plural Gyp·sies.

adjective

Origin of Gypsy

OTHER WORDS FROM Gypsy

Example sentences from the Web for gypsy

British Dictionary definitions for gypsy

Gipsy

noun plural -sies (sometimes not capital)

Derived forms of Gypsy

Word Origin for Gypsy

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

Gypsy

noun, plural Gyp·sies.

adjective

Origin of Gypsy

OTHER WORDS FROM Gypsy

Words related to gypsy

Example sentences from the Web for gypsy

British Dictionary definitions for gypsy

Gipsy

noun plural -sies (sometimes not capital)

Derived forms of Gypsy

Word Origin for Gypsy