Mid 19th century; earliest use found in George Borrow (1803–1881), writer and traveller. Partly from Romany + chal, after Romani romaničal, and partly directly from Romani romaničal, romaničel Romani man, usually in plural or collective contexts, probably from romani, plural of romanō + -čal, -čel, of uncertain origin, perhaps originally a variant of čavō Romani man. Compare French Romanichel.