gyp

Definition

A cheat or swindle; a rip-off.

Etymology

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.

Example Sentences

• "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!"