gombeen

English

Etymology

From Irish gaimbín (“monetary interest”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡɒmˈbiːn/
• Rhymes: -iːn

Noun

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

• gombeenism
• gombeenman

Adjective

gombeen

1. (Ireland) Corrupt, underhanded.

   They were talking gombeen politics.