diddikai

[ did-i-kahy ]

noun

1. a person of partial Romani descent.

Word History and Origins

Origin of diddikai¹

Borrowed into English from Romani around 1850–55

Example Sentences

Mrs. Brown assented volubly to everything, and all the time I saw in her smiling eyes, ever agreeing to all, and heard from her voluble lips nothing but the lie,—that lie which is the mental action and p. 115inmost grain of the Romany, and especially of the diddikai, or half-breed. 

From Project Gutenberg

A handsome dark-brown girl was busy at the wash-tub, two or three older women were clustered at the gate, and in all their faces was the manner of the diddikai or chureni, or half-blood gypsy. 

From Project Gutenberg

This was jour de fête for Sam and his diddikai, or half-blood pals; his foot was on his native heath in the horse-fair, where all inside the ring knew the gypsy, and it was with pride that he invited us to drink ale, and once in the bar-room, where all assembled were jockeys and sharps, conversed loudly in Romany, in order to exhibit himself and us to admiring friends. 

From Project Gutenberg

A clan described as diddikai, or half-bloods. 

From Project Gutenberg

The dark eye and brown face indicated a touch of the diddikai, or one with a little gypsy blood in his veins, while his fluent patter and unabashed boldness showed a long familiarity with race-grounds and the road, or with the Cheap-Jack and Dutch auction business, and other pursuits requiring unlimited eloquence and impudence. 

From Project Gutenberg