The word Gypsy is a corruption of Egyptian, but is best understood as applied to a mysterious vagabond race, scattered over the whole of Europe and parts of Asia, Africa, and America. Whence they originally came is not definitely known, but India seems to have been the cradle of the tribe. For centuries past they have drifted about over Europe in small bands, having no permanent homes; living by begging, fortune telling, and various tricks. The first notice of them which occurs in European literature is embodied in a free paraphrase, in German, of the Book of Genesis, written by an Austrian monk about 1122. On August 17, 1427, a band of them, coming from Bohemia, made their appearance before Paris, which, however, they were not allowed to enter, but were lodged at La Chapelle Saint Denis. Other hordes succeeded these in the following years, spreading in rapid succession over all parts of Germany, over Spain, England, Russia, Scandinavia, and, indeed, over the remotest parts of Europe. The account which they most frequently gave of themselves was, that they originally came from "Little Egypt," that the King of Hungary had compelled about 4,000 of them to be baptized, had slain the remainder, and had condemned the baptized to seven years' wandering.

In France, Germany, Scotland, and other countries the most stringent laws were formerly enforced against them and they were slain by thousands. The jargon spoken by the Gypsies is styled Romany and contains many Sanscrit words and corrupted Hebraisms.