English

Alternative forms

• gip, jip (eye dialect spellings)

Noun

gyp ‎(plural gyps)

1. (pejorative, sometimes offensive) 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”)

Usage notes

Because this term is often considered to derive^[1] from the problematic exonymic term Gypsy and represent a racist stereotype of the Romani, it may be offensive. See the usage note about gypsy.

Translations

Verb

gyp ‎(third-person singular simple present gyps, present participle gypping, simple past and past participle gypped)

1. (pejorative, sometimes offensive) To cheat or swindle someone or something inappropriately.

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

   You better watch out; they'll try to gyp you if you don't know what you're doing.

Usage notes

See the notes about the noun, above.

See also

• jew down
• welsh

References

• Gyp: Thieve, World Wide Words
• Etymology of "Gyp" / "gypped", Vocaboly.com

1. 1 2 “gyp” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

Etymology 2

Perhaps the same as Etymology 1.

Noun

gyp ‎(plural gyps)

1. (Cambridge and Durham, England) A college servant.
2. (Cambridge and Durham, England) The room in which such college servants work.
3. (Cambridge and Durham, England) A small kitchen for use by college students.

Etymology 3

Shortening.

Noun

gyp ‎(plural gyps)

1. Gypsophila.

Etymology 4

Perhaps from gee up.

Noun

gyp ‎(plural gyps)

1. Pain or discomfort.

   My back's giving me gyp.