Romany

or Rommany, Rom, subs. (common).—1.  A gypsy; and (2) the language spoken by gypsies. Whence TO PATTER ROMANY = ‘to talk the gypsy flash’ (GROSE); ROMANY RYE = a gentleman who talks and associates with gypsies (GROSE; VAUX). [A few Romany words have passed into English, but the only European tongues on which the Gipsy has had much influence are those of the Peninsula. In Spanish and Portuguese almost all the slang is Gipsy and almost all the Gipsy is slang. Our chief authorities, apart from personal knowledge, are J. Fitzmaurice Kelly, Esq., James Platt, Jr., Esq., and El Gitano by Francisco Sales Mayo (Madrid, 1870)].

  1749.  R. GOADBY, The Life and Adventures of Bampfylde Moore Carew, ‘The Oath of the Canting Crew.’ No dummerar, or ROMANY.

  1834.  W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood (1864), 175. I’m dumb founded if he can’t patter ROMANY as vel as the best on us!

  1851.  BORROW, Lavengro, xvii. ‘We were talking of language, Jasper?’ ‘True, brother.’ ‘Yours must be a rum one?’ ‘’Tis called ROMMANY.’ … ‘And you are what is called a Gypsy King?’ ‘Ay, ay; a ROMMANY Kral.’

  1871.  G. MEREDITH, The Adventures of Harry Richmond, xlv. I recognized a strange tongue in the cry, but too late that it was ROMANY to answer it.

  1883.  G. R. SIMS, THE ROMANY RYE [Title].

  1893.  P. H. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xx. My old man was a ROMANY … but he was an awful boozer.

  See RUM.