gypsy

Everyday

1. An old name for a person of the Romani people (Roma), whose ancestors came from India long ago and travelled through Europe; many Romani people still travel, many live in houses. tree →
2. (in old books) anyone who lives a travelling life, moving in a caravan from place to place. tree →
3. (adjective) of a travelling kind: a gypsy caravan. tree →

In the lessons

History and community lessons: Romani people have their own language and culture and have often been treated unfairly; many were killed in the Holocaust. In the UK «Gypsy, Roma and Traveller» communities use the word for themselves, but some people find «gypsy» hurtful, so «Romani» or «Roma» is safer. In The Wind in the Willows Toad's painted «gipsy caravan» is his new craze, and later he sells a horse to a gipsy.

Examples

• Toad bought a bright yellow gipsy caravan. tree →
• The old gypsy caravans were painted red and gold. tree →
• Toad sold the barge-woman's horse to a gipsy. tree →
• Romani people, once called gypsies, have their own language. tree →
• In history we learned how Roma people were treated in the war. tree →
• The story told of travelling folk who lived in caravans. tree →
• Some families in Ireland and Britain are Travellers. tree →
• He understood the gypsy woman's meaning now. tree →

Note

Spellings: gypsy (usual today) and gipsy (old, used in The Wind in the Willows). The word comes from «Egyptian», a wrong old belief about where they came from. Be careful: some people find «gypsy» rude; «Romani» or «Roma» is respectful. Do not use it as an insult. «Gyp» (to cheat) is offensive — avoid it.