Gyp

Definitions

1. A cheat or swindle; a rip-off.
   derogatory, offensive, sometimes
2. 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.
   historical
3. Gypsophila.
4. Pain or discomfort.
5. Synonym of gypsy (“contra dance step”).
6. The room in which such college servants work.
7. A small kitchen for use by college students.

Equivalents

Examples

“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!”

“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.”

“'Why, what is the matter⟳ with you, John?' I asked of the gyp who waited on Vincey and myself.”

“Had he acted discourteously to his bedmaker or his gyp, he would have⟳ minded just as much … .”

“My back's giving me gyp.”

CEFR level