Rom

   The name used to describe themselves by the majority of ethnic Gypsies in their own language. The etymology is unclear but the term may come from an old Indian word dom, the original meaning of which was "man." Derivation from the god Rama is unlikely. The plural is Rom or Roma according to the dialect. Other Gypsy groups-for example, the Sinti and Manouche-have the word in their dialect but only in the sense of "husband." The term is commonly employed when western European media are writing about Romanies from eastern Europe, and we have adopted this usage in this dictionary alongside Romany.

   The primary unifying concepts of the Romany people are their awareness of a common history and destiny and of a language (even if no longer spoken). Gypsy culture preserves a spirit of nomadism, whether exercised or not, a preference for self-employment, and-for most groups-laws of hygiene (Mageripen).

   See also Romani; Romany.