Zingara, n.

zingara
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zingara_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2020

# Zingaranoun

## Factsheet

### What does the noun Zingara mean?

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

### How common is the noun Zingara?

About 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1760 | 0.015
1770 | 0.013
1780 | 0.013
1790 | 0.012
1800 | 0.018
1810 | 0.021
1820 | 0.019
1830 | 0.022
1840 | 0.023
1850 | 0.024
1860 | 0.026
1870 | 0.019
1880 | 0.018
1890 | 0.018
1900 | 0.016
1910 | 0.015
1920 | 0.015
1930 | 0.012
1940 | 0.012
1950 | 0.011
1960 | 0.011
1970 | 0.0098
1980 | 0.01
1990 | 0.0098
2000 | 0.01
2010 | 0.0092

### How is the noun Zingara pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzɪŋɡərə/
ZING-guh-ruh

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɪŋ(ɡ)ərə/
ZING-guhr-uh

### Where does the noun Zingara come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1700s

The earliest known use of the noun Zingara is in the mid 1700s.

OED's earliest evidence for Zingara is from 1756, in the writing of A. Langford.

Zingara is a borrowing from Italian.

Etymons: Italian zingara.

### Nearby entries

1. zine, n. 1946–
2. zineb, n. 1950–
3. zines, int.?1701–10
4. zinester, n. 1986–
5. zinfandel, n. 1880–
6. zing, v. 1899–
7. zing, int. & n. 1875–
8. zingana, n.¹ 1883
9. zingana, n.² 1911–
10. Zingani, n. 1581–1879
11. Zingara, n.1756–
12. Zingaro, n. 1600–
13. zingel, n. 1803–
14. zingelin perch, n. 1803
15. zinger, n. 1906–
16. Zingg, n. 1941–
17. zingho, n. 1743
18. zingiber, n.?1720–
19. zingiberaceous, adj. 1821–
20. zingily, adv. 1951–
21. zinginess, n. 1938–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Italian.
Etymon: Italian zingara.
< Italian zingara, feminine form corresponding to zingaro Zingaro n.

## Meaning & use

Now rare.

1. 1756–
   A Romani woman or girl. Cf. Zingaro n., zingana n.1
   1. 1756

      > [Catalogue of] Marbles, &c... 57 A Head of Flora 58 Ditto of the Zingara 59 A Statue of Shakespeare [etc.].

      A. Langford, Catalogue Coll. Models & Marbles 4
   2. 1845

      > Don C. Once more we meet! 'Tis the Zingara! Mar. Yes, Maritana.

      E. Fitzball, Maritana iii. Duetto
   3. 1883

      > The face, perfect almost beyond any earthly perfection, was that of Zora, the Zingara.

      Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly January 31/2
   4. 1946

      > From the tsiganologue's point of view the Gypsy figures [in the etching] are, perhaps, somewhat disappointing, though the features, head-dress and voluminous skirts are characteristic of the Zingara of that date.

      Journal Gypsy Lore Society vol. 25 70
   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

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɪŋɡərə/
ZING-guh-ruh

### U.S. English

/ˈzɪŋ(ɡ)ərə/
ZING-guhr-uh

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

1. 1700s–1800s
   Zingara
2. 1800s
   Zingra

## Frequency

Zingara typically occurs about 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

Zingara is in frequency band 3, which contains words occurring between 0.01 and 0.1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of Zingara, n., 1760–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1760 | 0.015
1770 | 0.013
1780 | 0.013
1790 | 0.012
1800 | 0.018
1810 | 0.021
1820 | 0.019
1830 | 0.022
1840 | 0.023
1850 | 0.024
1860 | 0.026
1870 | 0.019
1880 | 0.018
1890 | 0.018
1900 | 0.016
1910 | 0.015
1920 | 0.015
1930 | 0.012
1940 | 0.012
1950 | 0.011
1960 | 0.011
1970 | 0.0098
1980 | 0.01
1990 | 0.0098
2000 | 0.01
2010 | 0.0092

Originally published as part of the entry for Zingaro, n.

Zingara, n. was revised in September 2020.

Zingara, n. was last modified in July 2023.