gipsy

Everyday

1. (old, can be offensive) An old word for a member of the Romani people, who came to Europe from India long ago and many of whom lived and travelled in caravans. tree →
2. In The Wind in the Willows, Toad sells the horse he has taken to a gipsy for six shillings and sixpence and a hot breakfast; Toad's caravan is a «gipsy caravan». tree →
3. Used in some names, like the gipsy moth. tree →

In the lessons

Many Romani and Traveller people find the word «gypsy» rude, especially when used as an insult, so today it is better to say Roma, Romani people or Travellers. Some families do still call themselves Gypsies with pride. In old books like The Wind in the Willows the word is used as it was in Edwardian times, sometimes with unfair ideas; in lessons we name those ideas as wrong today. Romani people have their own language, Romani, and a long history in Europe, including persecution.

Examples

• Toad sold the horse to a gipsy who was sitting by the road. tree →
• Toad's painted caravan was called a gipsy caravan. tree →
• Romani people came to Europe from India hundreds of years ago. tree →
• Today we say Roma or Travellers rather than gipsies. tree →
• The gipsy made a stew in a pot over the fire. tree →
• The gipsy moth has hairy caterpillars. tree →
• Then up there came a gipsy, blind of one eye. tree →

Note

Two spellings: gipsy (old British) and gypsy. Plural gipsies/gypsies. Say Roma, Romani people or Travellers in your own writing. The word comes from «Egyptian», an old mistaken belief about where Romani people came from.