# Desperately seeking an old column: "gyp" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 17, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desperately-seeking-an-old-column-gyp/264759 "2004-09-17T00:31:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ironmaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@ironmaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ironmaus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desperately-seeking-an-old-column-gyp/264759/1 "2004-09-17T00:31:05Z")
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?” ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desperately-seeking-an-old-column-gyp/264759/2 "2004-09-17T01:06:25Z")
Well, the only results for a Google search of (“Straight Dope” gyp) are a bunch of irrelevant crap and [this page](http://www.defectiveyeti.com/archives/cat_research_day.html). 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? ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desperately-seeking-an-old-column-gyp/264759/3 "2004-09-17T02:21:57Z")
Cecil has never written a column about “gyp.” ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desperately-seeking-an-old-column-gyp/264759/4 "2004-09-18T14:57:47Z")
Is this the column you’re looking for? [Why can’t Prince Rainier become a king?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_322.html) From a response to that column: > [@](#): > > Dear Cecil: > > As a Welsh-American, I am deeply offended by your use of the ethnic slur “welshed.” What is your factual basis for stereotyping Welsh people as a race who fail to honor their obligations? You owe the people of Wales an immediately apology. --Malcolm Solomon, Palo Alto, California > > Cecil replies: > > OK, I apologize. Next time I’ll say they “malcolmed” on the deal. Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desperately-seeking-an-old-column-gyp/264759/5 "2004-09-23T19:50:03Z")
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](http://www.welchs.com/) fail to honor their obligations. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desperately-seeking-an-old-column-gyp/264759/6 "2004-09-23T20:17:05Z")
> [@Ed Zotti](#): > > Cecil has never written a column about “gyp.” What a gyp. ---
**Author:** ![ironmaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@ironmaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ironmaus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desperately-seeking-an-old-column-gyp/264759/7 "2004-09-25T09:29:26Z")
> [@Arjuna34](#): > > Is this the column you’re looking for? > > [Why can’t Prince Rainier become a king?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_322.html) > > Arjuna34 YES, YES, YES! You are brilliant and wonderful.