Автор: dist (213.85.32.---)
Дата: 24-06-04 14:25
gipsy
[The early form gipcyan is aphetic for EGYPTIAN (B. 2); the change to gipsy may be due to influence of the suff. -Y3, or perh. of L. Жgyptius. Skelton (a1529) has ‘By Mary Gipcy’, by St. Mary of Egypt.
From the quotations collected for the dictionary, the prevalent spelling of late years appears to have been gipsy. The plural gypsies is not uncommon, but the corresponding form in the sing. seems to have been generally avoided, prob. because of the awkward appearance of the repetition of y.]
1. a. A member of a wandering race (by themselves called Romany), of Hindu origin, which first appeared in England about the beginning of the 16th c. and was then believed to have come from Egypt.
They have a dark tawny skin and black hair. They make a living by basket-making, horse-dealing, fortune-telling, etc.; and have been usually objects of suspicion from their nomadic life and habits. Their language (called Romany) is a greatly corrupted dialect of Hindi, with large admixture of words from various European langs.
[1514 see EGYPTIAN B. 2.]
1607 SHAKES. Ant. & Cl. IV. xii. 28 Oh this false Soule of Egypt!.. Like a right Gypsie hath at fast and loose Beguil'd me. 1615 W. HULL Mirr. Maiestie 60 In this Gypsy [Pharaoh's daughter], the wife of Salomon.
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