Etymology

gyp

G2Y4P3

Today it means: A cheat or swindle; a rip-off. Full definition →

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gyp · noun, verb1

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.

gyp · noun2

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.

gyp · noun3

Shortening.

gyp · noun4

Perhaps from gee up.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.