gipsy, gypsy, gipsen

& a. [A corruption of Mid Eng. Egupcien Egyptian; Fr. Egyptian; from Low Lat. Ægyptianus, from Ægyptius =an Egyptian; Gr. Aigyptios, from Aigyptos =Egypt. So called from its being popularly supposed that they came from Egypt, but their real home was India. By the Germans they were called Zigeuner; Dut. Heidenen (=Heathens); Dan. & Sw. Tatars; Ital. Zingari, Sp. Gitanos and Zincali; Fr. Bohé miens; Pers. Sisech: Hind. Karachee; and by them selves Rom (=man).] IMG:content-0468.png:[blocks in formation] II. Technically : 1. Ethnol.: A nomad Eastern race, the members of which came to Europe by way of the Isthmus of Suez and Egypt. They were, therefore, a umed to be Egyptians, and are so called in the Elizabeth an legislation against them, and in other places. As Egypt became better known to the English, it was found that the "Egyptians" were as much foreigners there as in England. It is now proved that they are from India, and apparently from that part of it adjacent to the river Indus, with the languages of some tribes inhabiting the banks of which their tongue best agrees. A tribe near the mouth of the Indus is called Tchinganes, which is almost exactly the same as Tchingenes, by which name these wanderers are known in Turkey and the Levant. They call themselves Sind, the name of the country through which the Indus flows in the lower part of its course. They are believed to have left their native country in dread of Timur Beg, better known as Timoor the Tartar, or Tamer lane, and first appeared in Paris, in the end of August, 1427. 2. Entom.: A moth, Hypogymna dispar , of the tribe Bombycina and the family Liparide. The male is dark-brown, and the female grayish-white. B. As adj .: Of or pertaining to a gipsy or gipsies; resembling a gipsy.