Gipsy or Gypsy?

[Chicklet]

I've always thought "Gypsy"

but at work today I spotted a product called "Gipsy" - can you guys clear up which way is the preferred spelling and why?

Chicklet

 

[Pookie]

"Gipsy" is a British variant of "Gypsy".

Hope that helps.


Pookie

 

[MathGirl]

Gpsy

The term "Gypsy" was originally coined because it was thought they had originated In eGYPt. I suppose if you spell "Egipt," then "Gipsy" would be okay. I doubt it, though.

It seems that the Gypsys originated somewhere in the area that is now India and Pakistan.

 

[gauchecritic]

If it's a product they probably want to copyright it but as everyone knows (especially Uncle Bill now that the courts have explained to him) you can't copyright an everyday word, in the same way you can't copyright a title.

As Mr Coca Cola knows you have to either invent a new word or copyright the typeface you invented for it.

Gauche

 

[TheEarl]

Just clear this up: Although gipsy is a British variant, most English people use gypsy.

Fookin 'ate pikeys.

The Earl

 

[karmadog]

I believe the 'gypsy' folk call themselves Roms, after Romany. I think they are believed to have come from Romania. No guarantees on the info, but I think it's true.

 

[MathGirl]

I believe the 'gypsy' folk call themselves Roms, after Romany. I think they are believed to have come from Romania. No guarantees on the info, but I think it's true.

I just read an article in"Smithsonian" about gypsys. The men are called Roms. They definitely migrated westward into Eastern Europe from the Indian subcontinent. As I remember, they hung around the Balkans for a few hundred years before they pushed westward again.

Diane the Self-Styled Gypsy Authority

 

[Un-registered]

Re: Gpsy

The term "Gypsy" was originally coined because it was thought they had originated In eGYPt. I suppose if you spell "Egipt," then "Gipsy" would be okay. I doubt it, though.

It seems that the Gypsys originated somewhere in the area that is now India and Pakistan.

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary says gypsy with gipsy as a variant. The definition is:
A member of a travelling people in Europe and N. America who have dark skin and hair and came originally from India, their language (Romany) being related to Hindi; a person regarded as resembling one of this people in looks or way of life.

 

[Chicklet]

okay so to keep the masses happy i'd use the word Gypsy = )

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Roms speak Romani.

 

[jon.hayworth]

Chicklet,

If you are describing a Gypsy use that word, but if your character is a Gypsy and is describing him / her self the would say they were "Rom" or "Romany".

To complicate matters non Romany people who colloquially might be called "Gypsies" e.g. they travel around and live in caravans (trailers) with a lifestyle no different to the Gypsy lifestyle, are known as "Travellers" or in Romany "Didicoi".

Hope that this helps your story

jon

 

[pop_54]

Yep

Chicklet,

If you are describing a Gypsy use that word, but if your character is a Gypsy and is describing him / her self the would say they were "Rom" or "Romany".

To complicate matters non Romany people who colloquially might be called "Gypsies" e.g. they travel around and live in caravans (trailers) with a lifestyle no different to the Gypsy lifestyle, are known as "Travellers" or in Romany "Didicoi".

Hope that this helps your story

jon

Yes and unfortunately all of the real one's, Romanies, and Didi's, are vanishing fast, just leaving the crooked bloody pikey's and so called new age travellers around causing trouble for the whole Gypsy clan.


pops..........

 

[jon.hayworth]

Not that flying pig again

jon

 

[pop_54]

Fraid so

fraid so, it's not the Mead doing it.

 

[Chicklet]

If you are describing a Gypsy use that word, but if your character is a Gypsy and is describing him / her self the would say they were "Rom" or "Romany".

good advice = )

i'm actually not writing a story about gypsies right now or in the near future...i just wanted to know for the pleasure of knowing = )

chicklet

 

[Un-registered]

good advice = )

i'm actually not writing a story about gypsies right now or in the near future...i just wanted to know for the pleasure of knowing = )

chicklet

If you do, you will have a lot of research to get it right. Romanis are different. I once spent an entire evening drinking with one, and with the County Public Health Inspector. The purpose was for us to talk the Rom out of burning his grandmother's corpse in her caravan as tradition demanded. (This is because it is illegal to do that in the UK)

All we managed was that he agreed to a private cremation and then the urn with the ashes in it was burned in her caravan with all her belongings, the next day. Dozens of vans came to this ceremony from many miles away.