gyp
English
Etymology 1
Perhaps from the term gypsy (“Roma”), due to a stereotype of the Roma as swindlers. Compare jew (“defraud”), from Jew, and welsh (“swindle by defaulting on a debt”), from Welsh.[1]
Alternative forms
- gip, jip (eye dialect spellings)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /d͡ʒɪp/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɪp
Noun
gyp (plural gyps)
- (derogatory, sometimes offensive) A cheat or swindle; a rip-off.
- Why do we have to buy this new edition of the textbook when there’s almost no difference between it and the previous one? What a gyp!
- Synonym of gypsy (“contra dance step”)
Usage notes
Because this term is often considered to derive[1] from the exonymic term Gypsy and represent a racist stereotype of the Romani, it may be offensive. See the usage note about gypsy.
Translations
|
Verb
gyp (third-person singular simple present gyps, present participle gypping, simple past and past participle gypped)
- (derogatory, sometimes offensive) To cheat or swindle.
- The cab driver gypped me out of ten bucks by taking the longer route.
- You better watch out; they'll try to gyp you if you don't know what you're doing.
Usage notes
See the notes about the noun, above.
Etymology 2
Perhaps the same as Etymology 1. An earlier theory derived the term from Ancient Greek γύψ (gúps, “vulture”) (/ɡýps/; compare Greek γύπας (gýpas) /ˈʝi.pas/),[1][2] "in reference to thievish habits of the servants" (and then derived Etymology 1 thence), but this does not explain the pronunciation.
Noun
gyp (plural gyps)
- (Cambridge University, Durham University, historical) A domestic servant, generally male, who would attend upon (usually several) students, brushing their clothes, carrying parcels, waiting at parties and other tasks; generally equivalent to a scout in the historical sense at Oxford University or a skip at Trinity College, Dublin.[3]
- 1880, William Blades, The Enemies of Books, page 40:
- All was neglect. The outer door of this room, which was open, was nearly on a level with the Quadrangle — some coats and trousers and boots were upon the ebony table and a "gyp" was brushing away at them just within the door — in wet weather he performed these functions entirely within the library, as innocent of the incongruity of his position as my guide himself.
- 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, OCLC 1167497017:
- 'Why, what is the matter with you, John?' I asked of the gyp who waited on Vincey and myself.
- 1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, I [Uniform ed., p. 14]:
- Had he acted discourteously to his bedmaker or his gyp, he would have minded just as much … .
- Coordinate terms: porter, bedder
-
- (Cambridge University, Durham University) The room in which such college servants work.
- (Cambridge University, Durham University) A small kitchen for use by college students.
Etymology 3
Shortening.
Noun
gyp (plural gyps)
- Gypsophila.
Etymology 4
Perhaps from gee up.
Noun
gyp (plural gyps)
- Pain or discomfort.
- My back's giving me gyp.
See also
- jew down
- welsh
References
- Gyp: Thieve, World Wide Words
- Etymology of "Gyp" / "gypped", Vocaboly.com
- Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “gyp”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/82874
- http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/archive-centre/archive-month/may-2010.html