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gyp

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gyp¹

  • /d͡ʒɪp/

Rhymes with -ɪp

Where it comes from

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.

noun gyps · gip · jip

  1. derogatory, offensive, sometimes 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!
  2. Synonym of gypsy (“contra dance step”).

    Similar: gypsy

verb gyps · gypping · gypped · gip · jip

  1. derogatory, offensive, sometimes To cheat or swindle. The cab driver gypped me out of ten bucks by taking the longer route.

gyp²

Where it comes from

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.

noun gyps

  1. 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. 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,
  2. The room in which such college servants work.
  3. A small kitchen for use by college students.

gyp³

Where it comes from

Shortening.

noun gyps

  1. Gypsophila.

gyp⁴

Where it comes from

Perhaps from gee up.

noun gyps

  1. Pain or discomfort. My back's giving me gyp.

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Cite this
MLA

"gyp." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/gyp. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

gyp. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/gyp

Chicago

"gyp." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/gyp.

BibTeX
@misc{gyp_2026,
  title = {gyp},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/gyp},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}