I have searched the archive and the indexes of all my books but cannot locate a particular column of which I have a fierce recollection. I believe that I read a response regarding Uncle Cecil’s use of the word “gyp.” In it, he acknowledges that the word could be found derogatory by some and agrees to change it with a catch. He offers up the letter writer’s name as the new verb and concludes it will be the best way to offend the fewest number of people possible.
Am I going crazy? Is this really a Straight Dope column? Should I be looking in the books under something other than “gyp?”
Well, the only results for a Google search of (“Straight Dope” gyp) are a bunch of irrelevant crap and this page. It’s not by Cecil, but it’s an semi-coherent explanation of “gyp” and its various meanings. There’s a link just below the relevant passage where the site author gives Cecil’s answer to another question. Maybe you’d seen this page in the past, and got the two references confused?
Of course, Cecil could have just said “welched.” That’s the way I’ve always heard the word, and Merriam-Webster lists it as an acceptable variation. In that case, I guess you’re just implying that juice makers fail to honor their obligations.