Zigeunerin, n.

zigeunerin
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zigeunerin_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2020

# † Zigeunerinnoun

## Factsheet

### What does the noun Zigeunerin mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun Zigeunerin. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the 1880s.

### Where does the noun Zigeunerin come from?

Earliest known use

1840s

The earliest known use of the noun Zigeunerin is in the 1840s.

OED's earliest evidence for Zigeunerin is from 1845, in the writing of William Makepeace Thackeray, novelist.

Zigeunerin is a borrowing from German.

Etymons: German Zigeunerin.

### Nearby entries

1. Ziegfeld, n. 1913–
2. Ziegler, n. 1957–
3. Ziegler-Natta, n. 1965–
4. Ziehl, n. 1892–
5. Ziehl-Neelsen, n. 1892–
6. ziff, n. 1917–
7. ZIFT, n. 1988–
8. zig, n. 1978–
9. zig, v. 1969–
10. Zigeuner, n. & adj. 1802–
11. Zigeunerin, n.1845–83
12. ziggety, int., adj., & adv. 1924–
13. ziggurat, n. 1873–
14. zigzag, n., adj., & adv. 1712–
15. zigzag, v. 1777–
16. zigzag connection, n. 1922–
17. zigzagged, adj. 1774–
18. zigzaggery, n. 1761–
19. zigzaggy, adj. a1845–
20. zigzag machine, n. 1952–
21. zigzag trefoil, n. 1796–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from German.
Etymon: German Zigeunerin.
< German Zigeunerin (1494; plural Zigeunerinnen) Romani woman < Zigeuner Zigeuner n. + ‑in, suffix forming feminine nouns.

Compare earlier Zigeuner n.

## Meaning & use

Obsolete. rare.

1. 1845–83
   In German or German-speaking contexts: a Romani woman or girl.
   1. 1845

      > Here should come the gleemen and jongleurs,..the dark-eyed nut-brown Zigeunerinnen.

      W. M. Thackeray, Legend of Rhine x, in G. Cruikshank's Table-book 198
   2. 1883

      > They would get Gretchen to whisper in her Jüdisch Deutsch, ‘Thy mother bought thee of a Zigeunerin for zwei Pfennige.’

      Harper's Magazine February 442/2
   1. gyptian 1533–1874
      A member of a widely dispersed, traditionally itinerant people originating in South Asia and now found mainly in Europe and North and South…
   2. Egyptian 1538–
      = Gypsy, n. & adj.
   3. Bohemian 1574–
      A Gypsy, a member of the Romani people. Now rare (chiefly historical).
   4. Gypsy 1574–
      Usually with capital initial. A member of a widely dispersed, traditionally itinerant people originating in South Asia and now found mainly in… Now sometimes considered derogatory or offensive, the term Gypsy has been steadily replaced in official contexts by Romani or (in plural) Roma. Nevertheless, Gypsy remains the most widely used term for this group among English-speakers. It is also sometimes used to refer to or include Travellers (see traveller, n. 2b.i), whose way of life is similar in certain respects. However, this usage is generally deprecated by members of both communities.
   5. tinker 1575–
      British and Irish English. Chiefly derogatory. Any itinerant trader, performer, or beggar; spec. (esp. Scottish and Irish English) a Traveller…
   6. Zingani 1581–1879
      With plural agreement. The Romani people; Gypsies collectively. Cf. zingana, n.¹, Zingaro, n.
   7. Zingaro 1600–
      A member of the Romani people, a Gypsy; (in later use) esp. one from Italy. Cf. Zingara, n., Zingani, n. Now rare and sometimes considered offensive.
   8. moonman 1608–
      cant. A Gypsy. Now historical.
   9. faw 1756–
      A Gypsy, Traveller, or other person with an itinerant way of life.
   10. vagabond 1756–
       A nomad. rare.
   11. Zingara 1756–
       A Romani woman or girl. Cf. Zingaro, n., zingana, n.¹
   12. gitano 1761–
       A Romani man or boy from Spain (esp. Andalusia); a male Spanish Gypsy. Cf. gitana, n.
   13. gitana c1770–
       A Romani woman or girl from Spain (esp. Andalusia); a female Spanish Gypsy. Cf. gitano, n.
   14. Roman 1800–
       = Rom, n.²
   15. Romani 1800–
       A member of a widely dispersed ethnic group, found mainly in Europe and North and South America, tracing its origins to South Asia; = Rom, n.² Cf…
   16. Tzigane 1802–
       A member of the Romani people; a Gypsy, esp. one from central or eastern Europe, particularly Hungary. Now often considered offensive.
   17. Zigeuner 1802–
       Esp. in German-speaking countries or in Hungary: a member of the Romani people, a Gypsy. Now rare and often considered offensive.
   18. Sinti 1827–
       A Romani people of central and eastern Europe. Also occasionally as a count noun: a member of this people.
   19. piker 1838–
       Chiefly English regional. derogatory. (A term of abuse for) a vagrant, tramp, or good-for-nothing; = pikey, n. & adj.¹
   20. pikey 1838–
       Chiefly English regional (south-eastern) slang. derogatory. Now considered offensive. A traveller or Gypsy; a vagrant, a tramp; (hence more generally) a lower-class person, regarded as coarse or disreputable.
   21. Rom 1841–
       A member of a widely dispersed ethnic group, found mainly in Europe and North and South America, tracing its origins to South Asia and speaking a…
   22. Zincalo 1841–
       A Spanish Romani person (esp. a man or boy). Often in plural. Cf. gitano, n., Zincala, n.
   23. Romanichal 1843–
       A member of a widely dispersed ethnic group, found mainly in Europe and North and South America, tracing its origins to South Asia; = Romani, n. A.1.
   24. Zincala 1844–91
       A Romani woman or girl from Spain. Cf. gitana, n., Zincalo, n.
   25. Zigeunerin 1845–83
       In German or German-speaking contexts: a Romani woman or girl.
   26. nomadian 1847
       A nomad.
   27. Romanichal 1851–
       spec. (usually in form Romany chal). A Romani boy or man. Cf. Romany chai, n. Now rare.
   28. Romany chai 1851–
       A Romani girl or woman. Cf. Romanichal, n. A.2.
   29. didicoi 1853–
       British (colloquial and regional). Now usually derogatory and offensive. A Gypsy, a member of the Romani people; (also) a member of any traditionally itinerant community; a Traveller. Sometimes (chiefly in Romani usage)…
   30. Bedouin 1863–
       transferred. One who leads a Bedouin-like life elsewhere; a wanderer, an itinerant. (Cf. city Arab, n.)
   31. gyppo 1868–
       Chiefly British. A member of the Romani people; a Gypsy. Now also in extended use: a poor or ill-kempt person. Now offensive and derogatory.
   32. zingana 1883
       A Romani woman or girl. Cf. Zingani, n., Zingara, n.
   33. gyp 1886–
       colloquial (sometimes considered offensive). A Gypsy; a member of the Romani people.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Forms

### Variant forms

1. 1800s
   Zigeunerin, Zigeunerinnen (plural)

Originally published as part of the entry for Zigeuner, n. & adj.

Zigeunerin, n. was updated in September 2020.