Hippie or Hippy? What's the correct spelling for hippie?

The word "hippie" is often spelled "hippy" as an alternative spelling. The spelling "hippy" is generally considered to be a variant of the word "hippie," and both spellings are used interchangeably. The word "hippie" is derived from the word "hip," which was a slang term used in the 1960s to describe someone who was fashionable and up-to-date. The word "hippie" was first used to describe the countercultural movement of the 1960s, which emerged in the United States and was characterized by a rejection of mainstream values and a embrace of alternative lifestyles and practices such as peace, love, and freedom.

There is no clear consensus on why the word "hippie" is sometimes spelled "hippy." Some sources suggest that the spelling "hippy" may have originated as a way to differentiate the word from the word "hippy," which means "having a rounded, protruding buttocks." Others believe that the spelling "hippy" may have arisen as a way to distinguish the word from the word "hippy," which means "happy." It is also possible that the spelling "hippy" may have simply been a result of linguistic evolution, as words often change and evolve over time.