different between gypsyism vs gypsy

English

Alternative forms

• gipsyism

Etymology

gypsy +? -ism

Noun

gypsyism (countable and uncountable, plural gypsyisms)

1. The state of being a gypsy.
2. (offensive, ethnic slur) The practices or habits ascribed to gypsies, such as deception, cheating, and flattery.

Usage notes

See the notes about gypsy and Gypsy.

See also

• antigypsyism

English

Alternative forms

• gipsy, gipsey, gypsey, gypsie (archaic)
• gyptian

Etymology

See Gypsy. The generic usage that refers to any itinerant person.

Compare bohemian, from Bohemia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d???p.si/
• Rhymes: -?psi

Noun

gypsy (plural gypsies)

1. (sometimes offensive) Alternative form of Gypsy: a member of the Romani people.
2. (colloquial) An itinerant person or any person, not necessarily Romani; a tinker, a traveller or a carny.
   • c. 1606, William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, Act II, Scene 7,^[1]

     Like a right gypsy, hath, at fast and loose, Beguiled me to the very heart of loss.

3. (sometimes offensive) A move in contra dancing in which two dancers walk in a circle around each other while maintaining eye contact (but not touching as in a swing). (Compare whole gyp, half gyp, and gypsy meltdown, in which this step precedes a swing.)
4. (theater) A member of a Broadway musical chorus line.
5. (dated) A person with a dark complexion.
6. (dated) A sly, roguish woman.

Usage notes

See notes at Gypsy.

Synonyms

• (contra dancing): gyre, gyp, gip

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

gypsy (not comparable)

1. Alternative form of Gypsy: of or belonging to the Romani people.
2. (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.

Usage notes

See the notes about Gypsy.

Derived terms

Verb

gypsy (third-person singular simple present gypsies, present participle gypsying, simple past and past participle gypsied)

1. (intransitive) To roam around the country like a gypsy.
2. To perform the gypsy step in contra dancing.
   • 1992 April 7, [email protected], contra-gypsies, in rec.folk-dancing, Usenet:

     Look at the person you're gypsying with, and convey the message that you notice them as a person and that you're glad that they're there, […]

   • 1998, September 9, Jonathan Sivier, Contra Corners - followed by gypsy, in rec.folk-dancing, Usenet:

     The only one I know of is The Tease by Tom Hinds which starts with the actives gypsying and then swinging their neighbors and ends with contra […]

See also

References

• gypsy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.