Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1910
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GIPSIE, GIPS, v. or int. An Abd. variant of chips (see Chaps), used in senses 1. and 3. [′dʒɪps(ɪ̢)]Abd. c.1910 per Ayr.9:
In the playing of any game the word gipsie, sometimes shortened to gips, was used to denote a right to priority or to consideration in the game. Thus, where the order of play had to be decided, the children would cry out “Gips first”, “Gipsie second”, etc. If the child omitted gips or gipsie, any other child who said it, could claim the position though not first to ask for it. It applied also to the parts to be played, as well as to order. It was further used as marking a truce in play: in this connection the word alone was used.
