Gynæcium

( Bot. ) The united pistules of a flower, when taken together. Gynophore, ( jin'o - för ,) n. [Fr., from Gr. gunë , and phoros , bearing, from pherein , to bear.] The pedicle which in some flowers raises the pistil above the stamens, as in the Pa ion - flower. Gyöngyös, ( je'on - je -os,) a town of Hungary, in the co. of Heves, situated at the S. base of the Matra Mountains, 50 m. N.E. of Pesth. In this vicinity, the fine Vi outaer wine is raised. Manuf . Wine and fruits. Pop . 16,500. Gyp, ( jip ,) n. [Supposed to have been originally a jocose application of the Gr. gups , a vulture.] One who, as famulus , or body-servant, waits upon a student at the university of Cambridge, England. Gyp'ætos, n . [Gr. gups , a vulture, and ætos , an eagle.] (Zool.) See LAMMERGEIER. Gypoger'anus, n . [Gr. gups , a vulture, and geranos , a crane.] ( Zool .) See SECRETARY. Gyp's eous, a. [Fr. gypseux , from Lat. gypsum. Having, or partaking of the qualities of, gypsum. Gypsy, Gipsy, Gipsey, ( jip's ee ,) n.; pl. GYPSIES. (Hist.) A term derived from a corruption of the word Egyptians, and applied to a wandering race of people who are found distributed over many countries of Europe and Asia. They seem to have migrated into Europe from the East at the beginning of the 15th cent.; and first appeared in Paris in 1427, representing themselves as Christian penitents, driven out of Egypt by the Saracens. They were more than a hundred and twenty in number, and, according to a French writer, "They had their ears pierced, from which depended a ring of silver; their hair was black and crispy, and their women filthy to a degree, and were sorcere es who told fortunes." They and their people, who arrived in great numbers, obtained permi ion to remain in the kingdom; but after a short while, on account of their idlene and depredations, terrible orders were enacted in order to suppre them and drive them from the country. The name of Bohemians was given to them by the French, probably because large numbers of them had come in to France through Bohemia. Many, in consequence of the severity shown towards them, were driven back into the woods and forests of the same country; others pa ed into Germany and Hungary; while bands of others swarmed over the Pyrenees, and poured down on the plains of Spain. The names by which the gypsies are known, differ with the country in which they are found, although, with one or two exceptions, not materially. In Ru ia they are styled Zigani ; in Turkey and Persia, Zingarri ; and in Germany, Zigeuner ; all which words apparently sprung from the same root, probably Zincali , a term by which these people, and especially those of Spain, sometimes designate themselves, and the meaning of which is supposed to be "the black men of Zend, or Ind." The Zigani are found in all parts of Ru ia, except in the government of St. Petersburg, from which they have been banished. Their principal employment is trafficking in horses and curing the diseases of cattle. In Moscow, however, they have given up their wandering habits, inhabit stately houses, and go abroad in elegant carriages, being behind the higher orders of the Ru ians neither in appearance nor mental acquirements. The females are celebrated for their vocal powers. The Czigamy, or Hungarian gypsies, live in rags and filth, but are merry and fond of music. They are addicted to horse-dealing, and are tinkers and smiths in a small way; the women tell fortunes, and both sexes are incorrigible thieves. In Wall a chia and Moldavia they call themselves Roumouni , and in all countries the gypsies style themselves, and the language which they speak, Romany. In the gypsy language, Rom means a husband, and Romany the sect of the husbands. Although no country appears le adapted to this wandering life, which seems so natural to these people, than England, it is neverthele true that they do exist there, and the covered cart and little tent of the Romany seldom remain more than a day or two in one place. When the gypsies first arrived in England, they were much persecuted. After a time their persecutors got weary of pursuing them, and at present they are considered in some degree as a privileged people. Although their way of life is unlawful, it is connived at, the law of England having discovered, by experience, that its utmost force is inefficient to restrain them from their habits. The male gypsies in England are all dealers in horses, and sometimes employ their idle time in mending the tin and copper utensils of the peasantry; the females tell fortunes. In all countries the gypsies are very handsome when young, but hideously ugly when they grow old. The climate of England is favorable to beauty, and in no land is the appearance of the gypsy so prepo e ing as in that country. The dialect of the Romany which they speak is tolerably pure, but mixed with English words. Dabbling in sorcery has always been a profe ion of the gypsies in all times and countries, and is especially the province of the females. They are divided into cla es and tribes in England, and the principal gypsy tribes now in existence are the Stan leys, whose haunt is the New Forest; the Lovells , who are fond of London and its vicinity; the Coopers , who live round about Windsor; the Smiths , who have taken up their abode in the eastern counties; and the Hernes , who have appropriated the north of England, and Yorkshire especially. Much interesting information respecting the G. may be found in Geo. Borrow's Romany Rye, and The G. of India, by D. MacRitchie, (Lond. 1886.) Gypsiferous, a. [Lat. gypsum, and ferre, to bear.) Producing or containing gypsum.