gyp

Etymology 1

Perhaps from the term gypsy (“Roma”), due to a stereotype of the Roma as swindlers. Compare jew (“defraud”), from Jew, and welsh (“swindle by defaulting on a debt”), from Welsh. Could also be derived from dupe, with the same pattern (yod coalescence) as idiot becomes eejit in Scottish English.

noun

1. (derogatory, 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”)

verb

1. (derogatory, sometimes offensive) To cheat or swindle.
   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.
   On Wednesday, Goldberg used a derogatory term associated with Romany people while discussing former president Donald Trump, saying that his supporters are “people who still believe that he got gypped somehow in the election”. 2023-03-16, Maya Yang, quoting Whoopi Goldberg, “Whoopi Goldberg apologizes for using Romany slur on ABC’s The View”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

Etymology 2

Perhaps the same as Etymology 1. An earlier theory derived the term from Ancient Greek γύψ (gúps, “vulture”) (/ɡýps/; compare Greek γύπας (gýpas) /ˈʝi.pas/), "in reference to thievish habits of the servants" (and then derived Etymology 1 thence), but this does not explain the pronunciation.

noun

1. (Cambridge University, Durham University, historical) A domestic servant, generally male, who would attend upon (usually several) students, brushing their clothes, carrying parcels, waiting at parties and other tasks; generally equivalent to a scout in the historical sense at Oxford University or a skip at Trinity College, Dublin.
   All was neglect. The outer door of this room, which was open, was nearly on a level with the Quadrangle — some coats and trousers and boots were upon the ebony table and a "gyp" was brushing away at them just within the door — in wet weather he performed these functions entirely within the library, as innocent of the incongruity of his position as my guide himself. 1880, William Blades, The Enemies of Books, page 40
   Had he acted discourteously to his bedmaker or his gyp, he would have minded just as much … . 1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, I [Uniform ed., p. 14]
2. (Cambridge University, Durham University) The room in which such college servants work.
3. (Cambridge University, Durham University) A small kitchen for use by college students.

Etymology 3

Shortening.

noun

1. Gypsophila.

Etymology 4

Perhaps from gee up.

noun

1. Pain or discomfort.
   My back's giving me gyp.