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noun. spal· peen spal-ˈpēn. spȯl- chiefly Ireland. : rascal. Word History. Etymology. Irish spailpín seasonal laborer, rascal. First Known Use. 1767, in the meaning defined above. Time Traveler. The first known use of spalpeen was in 1767. See more words from the same year. Dictionary Entries Near spalpeen. spalling hammer. spalpeen. spalt.
May 22, 2024 · Noun. [edit] spalpeen (plural spalpeens) (Ireland, ethnic slur) A poor migratory farm worker in Ireland, often viewed as a rascal or mischievous and cunning person. (Ireland, sometimes endearing) A good-for-nothing person. See also. [edit] culchie. guttersnipe. References. [edit] merriam-webster.com. [1]. Spalpeen.
Spalpeen definition: a lad or boy.. See examples of SPALPEEN used in a sentence.
2 meanings: Irish 1. an itinerant seasonal labourer 2. a rascal or layabout.... Click for more definitions.
A spailpín (Irish: [ˈsˠpˠalʲpʲiːnʲ]), anglicised as spailpeen or spalpeen, or "wandering landless labourer" was an itinerant or seasonal farmworker in Ireland from the 17th to the early 20th century. [1]
n. Irish. A rascal; a scoundrel. [Irish spailpín, rascal, itinerant farm laborer, diminutive of spailp, conceited fellow, from spailp, pride, bragging, loafing about with a conceited air.] American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
Spalpeen is a noun used in Irish English that has three meanings, according to OED. It is a borrowing from Irish spailpín, meaning a small or young animal, a young person, or a young horse.
