1600, alteration of
gypcian, a worn-down M.E. dial. form of
egypcien "Egyptian," from the supposed origin of these people. Cognate with Sp.
Gitano and close in sense to Turk. and Arabic
Kipti "gypsy," lit. "Coptic;" but in M.Fr. they were
Bohémien (see
bohemian), and in Sp. also
Flamenco "from Flanders." "The gipsies seem doomed to be associated with countries with which they have nothing to do" [Weekley].
Zingari, the It. and Ger. name, is of unknown origin.
Romany is from the people's own language, a pl. adj. form of
rom "man."
Gipsy is the prefered spelling in England.
[jip-see] 
noun, plural -sies, adjective 
) a person held to resemble a gypsy, esp. in physical characteristics or in a traditionally ascribed freedom or inclination to move from place to place.