Spalpeen

Spalpeen

A spalpeen is a late 18th century term denoting a poor migratory farm worker in Ireland. Spalpeen comes from the Irish word spailpin. Also, a spalpeen is viewed as a rascal or mischievous and cunning person. Also, it is an Irish term for a good-for-nothing person and is often used as a name given to a person during a good humored ridicule.

For example, in Thomas Flanagan's "The Year of the French", Ferdy O'Donnell says, "And they stood you before the magistrates like a spalpeen or a tinker." This context of the word spalpeen implies that spalpeens were viewed as the lowest in social class and were extremely ignorant and uneducated people. Another example from "The Year of the French"is when Sean Mackenna says, "Sure the French wouldn't bring with them barrels of coppers for the spalpeens of Connaught. It is murder and bloodshed they would bring." This quote implies that spalpeens were a very disrespected group and their actions were held to the very lowest of standards.

ee also

* Irish language
* Guttersnipe

References

* [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spalpeen merriam-webster.com] .
* [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/spalpeen] .
* Flanagan, Thomas. The Year of the French. New York: The New York Review of Books, 1979.
* [http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary encarta MSN] .
* "Spalpeen." The New Oxford American Dictionary. Second ed.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spalpeen — Spal peen, n. [Ir. spailpin, fr. spailp a beau, pride, self conceit.] A scamp; an Irish term for a good for nothing fellow; often used in good humored contempt or ridicule. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spalpeen — [spal pēn′] n. [Ir spailpīn] Irish a scamp or rascal …   English World dictionary

  • spalpeen — /ˈspælpin/ (say spalpeen) noun 1. a workman or labourer. 2. a rascal; knave. 3. a boy. {Irish Gaelic spailpín; origin uncertain} …  

  • spalpeen — noun Etymology: Irish spailpín seasonal laborer, rascal Date: 1767 chiefly Irish rascal …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • spalpeen — /spal peen , spal peen/, n. Irish Eng. 1. a lad or boy. 2. a rascal; scamp. [1770 80; < Ir spailpín seasonal hired laborer, rude person, scamp, equiv. to spailp spell, bout, turn + ín n. suffix] * * * …   Universalium

  • spalpeen — noun /spalˈpiːn/ a) A poor migratory farm worker in Ireland, often viewed as a rascal or mischievous and cunning person. b) A good for nothing person, often used so named during a good humored …   Wiktionary

  • spalpeen — n. rascal, mischievous person (Irish term); useless person, good for nothing (Irish term); poor farm worker …   English contemporary dictionary

  • spalpeen — [spal pi:n] noun Irish a rascal. Origin C18 (denoting a migratory farm worker): from Ir. spailpín, of unknown origin …   English new terms dictionary

  • spalpeen — spal·peen …   English syllables

  • spalpeen — n. Ir. 1 a rascal; a villain. 2 a youngster. Etymology: Ir. spailpiacuten, of unkn. orig …   Useful english dictionary

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