Lexic.us

Definition of Gypsy

1. Noun. A laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment. "Itinerant traders"

2. Noun. 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).

3. Noun. The Indic language of the Gypsies.

Definition of Gypsy

1. n. One of a vagabond race, whose tribes, coming originally from India, entered Europe in the 14th or 15th century, and are now scattered over Turkey, Russia, Hungary, Spain, England, etc., living by theft, fortune telling, horsejockeying, tinkering, etc. Cf. Bohemian, Romany.

2. a. Pertaining to, or suitable for, gypsies.

3. v. i. To play the gypsy; to picnic in the woods.

Definition of Gypsy

1. Noun. A member of the Romani people, or one of it sub-groups (Roma, Sinti, Romanichal, etc). '''Gypsy''' is not used by the Romani people themselves (it is an exonym) and is considered pejorative by some, mainly among the Romani people themselves. ¹

2. Noun. A member of other nomadic peoples, not only Romani people; a traveller. ¹

3. Proper noun. (rare) The language of the Romani people; Romani. ¹

4. Adjective. Of or belonging to the Romani people or one of it sub-groups (Roma, Sinti, Romanichel, etc). This term is sometimes considered pejorative. ¹

5. Adjective. Of or belonging to the ''Gypsy'' ''race'' (Webster). ¹

6. Noun. (context: sometimes pejorative) An itinerant person or any person or group with qualities traditionally ascribed to Romani people, including suspected of making a living from dishonest practices or theft etc.; one of a vagabond race, not necessarily Romani ¹

7. Adjective. (pejorative offensive) Of or having the qualities of an itinerant person or group with qualities traditionally ascribed to Romani people; making a living from dishonest practices or theft etc. ¹

8. Adjective. (context: sometimes pejorative) Gypsy, of or belonging to the Romani. ¹

9. Adjective. (archaic) Of or belonging to the ''Gypsy'' ''race'' (Webster). ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Gypsy

1. to live like a gypsy (a wanderer) [v -SIED, -SYING, -SIES]

Medical Definition of Gypsy

1. 1. One of a vagabond race, whose tribes, coming originally from India, entered Europe in 14th or 15th centry, and are now scattered over Turkey, Russia, Hungary, Spain, England, etc, living by theft, fortune telling, horsejockeying, tinkering, etc. "Like a right gypsy, hath, at fast and loose, Beguiled me to the very heart of loss." (Shak) 2. The language used by the gypsies. 3. A dark-complexioned person. 4. A cunning or crafty person Origin: OE. Gypcyan, F. Gyptien Egyptian, gypsy, L. Aegyptius. See Egyptian] [Also spelled gipsy and gypsey. (16 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Gypsy

gypsiology gypsography gypsophila gypsophilas gypsophyte gypsophytes gypsoplast gypsoplasts gypstack gypster

gypsters gypsum gypsum board gypsumlike gypsums gypsy (current term) gypsy's kisses gypsy cab gypsy cabs gypsy dancing

gypsy moth gypsy moths gypsy mushroom gypsycraft gypsydom gypsydoms gypsying gypsyish gypsyism

Literary usage of Gypsy

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant: Embracing English, American, and Anglo by Albert Barrère, Charles Godfrey Leland (1890)
"Hotten says this is gypsy for a young man. It is nothing of the kind, rge meaning invariably a gentleman or superior person, and nothing else. ..."

2. The Standard Operas, Their Plots and Their Music by George Putnam Upton (1914)
"Forgetful or unmindful of Arsena, he falls in love with Saffi, a gypsy girl, ... The opera abounds in brilliant melodies, dance rhythms, and gypsy music. ..."

3. Our Boys and Girls by Oliver Optic (1871)
"Tell us quickly, then, gypsy kind, Where to find Our darling in the glen ! gypsy. Up the hill, Where the rill Runs to meet the brook, Mosses grow, ..."

4. High Tide: Songs of Joy and Vision from the Present-day Poets of America and by Gertrude Moore Richards, Waldo Richards (1916)
"EVA GORE-BOOTH V, gypsy-HEART THE April world is misted with emerald and gold; The meadow-larks are calling sweet and keen; gypsy-heart is up and off for ..."

5. The Gentleman's Magazine (1883)
"The stress of circumstances is now so effectively making itself felt, that probably within twenty years gypsy encampments will be rarely seen ; but gypsy ..."

6. The Zincali: Or, An Account of the Gypsies of Spain. With an Original by George Henry Borrow (1841)
"gypsy FORTUNE-TELLERS. gypsy JOCKEYS gypsy WILL. ... for I can remember no period when the mentioning of the name of gypsy did not awaken feelings within my ..."

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