GYPSY
What does "GYPSY" mean?
A now-often-offensive term for a member of the Romani people, a traditionally itinerant ethnic group.
Meanings
- A member of the Romani people; many consider this exonym a slur and prefer 'Romani' or 'Roma'. Scholars now favor 'Romani' over the older term in academic writing. informal
- A person regarded as having a wandering, unconventional, or free-spirited way of life. After college she lived like a gypsy, moving cities every few months. figurative
- In theater, a member of a Broadway chorus who moves from show to show. The veteran gypsy had danced in a dozen musicals over twenty years. informal
Did you know?
- The word 'gypsy' is a worn-down form of 'Egyptian' - medieval Europeans wrongly assumed the Romani came from Egypt, when their language actually points to northern India.
- The Romani language is related to Sanskrit, tracing the people's origin to northern India around a thousand years ago, despite the Egyptian misnomer.
Word origin
A shortening of 'Egyptian', from the mistaken medieval belief that the Romani people originated in Egypt; in fact their language traces to northern India.
Remember it
GYPSY hides 'Egypt' in disguise: the word is a clipped, garbled 'Egyptian' from a centuries-old mistake.
What it teaches
A name born of a stranger's guess can outlive the truth by centuries; ask people what they call themselves.
Quick facts
What does GYPSY mean?
A now-often-offensive term for a member of the Romani people, a traditionally itinerant ethnic group.
Is GYPSY a valid word?
Yes — GYPSY is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is GYPSY?
GYPSY has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does GYPSY come from?
A shortening of 'Egyptian', from the mistaken medieval belief that the Romani people originated in Egypt; in fact their language traces to northern India.
What can GYPSY teach us?
A name born of a stranger's guess can outlive the truth by centuries; ask people what they call themselves.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.