gombeen

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English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Etymology

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From Irish gaimbín (monetary interest).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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gombeen (countable and uncountable, plural gombeens)

  1. (archaic) Usury.
  2. (historical, Ireland) A moneylender during the Great Famine.
    • 2002, Joseph O'Connor, Star of the Sea, Vintage, published 2003, page xix:
      It was said by some that he had been a moneylender back in Ireland; a ‘gombeen’ in their slang: a hated figure.
  3. (Ireland, slang) A mean, underhanded, corrupt person. Usually applied to politicians.
    • 1955, J P Donleavy, The Ginger Man, France, published 1955 (France), page 108:
      "Could you give me two ounces of butter?"
      "Well, I don't know. We sell butter usually by the weight half pound or a pound."
      "Do you sell quarter pounds?"
      "Well, I think so."
      "Could you give me half a quarter pound?"
      "Yes."
      "Half a quarter pound then."
      Sebastian watching him. O you sly gombeen man. The backs of these stores, most sordid places in the world. You stupid, intolerable oaf.

Derived terms

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Adjective

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gombeen

  1. (Ireland) Corrupt, underhanded.
    They were talking gombeen politics.