Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Gyp

//d͡ʒɪp// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A cheat or swindle; a rip-off. derogatory, offensive, sometimes

    "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!"

  2. 2
    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. historical

    "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."

  3. 3
    Gypsophila.
  4. 4
    Pain or discomfort.

    "My back's giving me gyp."

  5. 5
    (sometimes offensive) an act of swindling or cheating wordnet
Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    Synonym of gypsy (“contra dance step”).
  2. 7
    The room in which such college servants work.
  3. 8
    A small kitchen for use by college students.
Verb
  1. 1
    To cheat or swindle. derogatory, offensive, sometimes

    "The cab driver gypped me out of ten bucks by taking the longer route."

  2. 2
    (sometimes offensive) to cheat or swindle wordnet

Etymology

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. Could also be derived from dupe, with the same pattern (yod coalescence) as idiot becomes eejit in Scottish English.

Etymology 2

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. Could also be derived from dupe, with the same pattern (yod coalescence) as idiot becomes eejit in Scottish English.

Etymology 3

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/), "in reference to thievish habits of the servants" (and then derived Etymology 1 thence), but this does not explain the pronunciation.

Etymology 4

Shortening.

Etymology 5

Perhaps from gee up.

See also for "gyp"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Want a quick game? Try Word Finder.