A look at the surprising origins of some common English words and phrases

Katelyn Dingman

“Dude! I totally got gypped getting my car fixed today!”

The online Oxford English Dictionary defines the verb to gyp as referring to being ticked, cheated or swindled. This particular word is used commonly in English slang, but does anyone know its origin?

It was adopted into English from the word ‘Gypsy,’ being a shortened form of the word ‘Gyptians,’ referring to individuals belonging to the Roma peoples. In recognizing the origin of the word ‘gyp’, a question is raised: why is something so historically derogatory still in common use?

"Ring around the rosy", a children's nursery rhyme, is believed to refer to the Great Plague of London. Many commonly used words and phrases can have surprising origins. Photo by Rita Greer.

According to Stephen Powell, a linguistics professor at the University of Guelph, the origin of a phrase doesn’t necessarily have bearing on its current meaning or usage.

“Why should those origins [affect] the way words are understood if the languages of which those origins impart are themselves dead,” asked Powell.

The well-known children’s nursery rhyme, “Eeny Menny Miny Moe” also has a racial undertone to its origin that is unknown to many. It is thought to have descended from Old English or Celtic. The modern version of this rhyme is “Eeny Menny Miny Moe catch a Tiger by the toe.” This version was changed from its original form that included an offensive slur referring to black people in place of the word ‘tiger’.

This particular version of the rhyme has been phased out of present-day speech for its obvious racist implications.

“A moment’s reflection informs us of the origin of that expression and its obvious problems,” said Powell.

In 2003, a lawsuit took place concerning this particular rhyme. Two African American women, Louis Sawyer and Grace M. Fuller, filed suit against a Southwest Airline flight attendant who allegedly said to them, “Eeny Menny Miny Moe. Pick a seat we got to go.”

These women claimed that the rhyme was directed at them with racial overtones. The flight attendant stated that the comment was a general announcement to all passengers. The case sheds some light on how blurred the line has become between what can be seen as an intentional racial remark and what can be seen a common lack of knowledge of the origin of a particular phrase.

“Language can have a significant power to wound, even when the speaker does not mean for it to do so,” said Powell, referring specifically to the case involving the famous Children’s rhyme.

While some suggest that educating younger children on the etymology of certain words would be a helpful practice, Powell feels that an understanding that the offensive meaning of these words are historical, and do not hold the same meaning today, is important.

“Although I believe in being sensitive in one’s use of language, all the education in the world isn’t going to prevent some insensitivity and some bruised feelings,” said Powell.  “Etymology is just history; it’s not the current meaning of the word.”