List of English words of Irish origin: Difference between revisions
Appearance
Content deleted Content added
rvrt vandal |
|||
Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
;A noogy: from '''''aonóg''''', to grab someone and rub him/her on the head with knuckles (SLC) |
;A noogy: from '''''aonóg''''', to grab someone and rub him/her on the head with knuckles (SLC) |
||
;Aroon: from '''''a rúin''''', a term of affection found in love songs (SLC) |
;Aroon: from '''''a rúin''''', a term of affection found in love songs (SLC) |
||
;Avon meaning river, used in English placenames. Current Irish '''''abhann''''' is pronounced ''ow-wan''. |
|||
;Avoorneen: from '''''a mhuirnín''''', a term of endearment (SLC) |
;Avoorneen: from '''''a mhuirnín''''', a term of endearment (SLC) |
||
== B == |
== B == |
Revision as of 11:49, 31 October 2007
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2007) |
This is a list of English language words of Irish origin, including from the Celtic Irish language and the Germanic Hiberno-English and Ulster Scots languages.
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
Dictionary abbreviations:
- AHD: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, hosted at Bartleby.com
- M-W: Meriam-Webster, hosted at webster.com
- RH: Random House Unabridged Dictionary, hosted at Dictionary.com
- SLC: How The Irish Invented Slang: The Secret Language Of The Crossroads by Daniel Cassidy (ISBN 978-1904859604)
A
- Acushla
- from a chúisle, a term of endearment and affection (SLC)
- Agrah
- from a ghrá, a term of endearment (SLC)
- Alanna
- from a leanbh, a term of endearment; a name (SLC)
- A nail
- from ainfheoil (corrupt flesh, gross flesh, granulations), a sexually transmitted disease (SLC)
- A noogy
- from aonóg, to grab someone and rub him/her on the head with knuckles (SLC)
- Aroon
- from a rúin, a term of affection found in love songs (SLC)
- Avon meaning river, used in English placenames. Current Irish abhann is pronounced ow-wan.
- Avoorneen
- from a mhuirnín, a term of endearment (SLC)
B
- Babe
- from báb, a girl, a sexually attractive young woman (SLC)
- Bailiwick
- from báille vicus (Gaelic-Latin compound), district of a bailiff (SLC)
- Bally
- from bailigh (to gather, collect, assemble), a pitch or a spiel that gathers a crowd to a circus or carnival sideshow (SLC)
- Ballyhoo
- from báiliú, the pitch, the bally, spiel, or music used to attract a crowd (SLC)
- Baloney
- from béal ónna (silly, simple, stupid or foolish talk, blather or blarney), nonsense, pretentious talk; bunk, worthless talk (SLC)
- Banana
- from baothán nathánach (saucy fool, witty simpleton), a comedian, especially in burlesque and vaudeville (SLC)
- Bannock
- from bannach, a homemade loaf or scone (SLC)
- banshee
- from Irish bean sídhe, "woman of fairyland" (M-W), "...of the fairies" (AHD) or "...of a fairy mound" (RH)
- Bard
- from bárd; bard, a poet (SLC)
- Beak
- from beachtaí, beachtaire, a judge, a magistrate (SLC)
- Beat
- from béad (loss, injury, robbery, crime, misdeed), to rob, cheat, or swindle someone. In poker a "bad beat" is a very bad loss (SLC)
- Beef
- from b'aifirt (rebuked, blamed, accused, complained (SLC), to blame, to complain to the police or authorities (SLC)
- Bees knees
- from béas núíosach (fresh new style, novel manner), something outstanding or new; a fresh new style (SLC)
- Bee's wax
- from béasmhaireacht, "mind your own bee's wax", meaning "mind your own business" (SLC)
- ben
- (from Gaelic beann) a mountain peak. For instance, the Twelve Bens in Connemara or Ben Bulben in Sligo, beloved of William Butler Yeats ('Under bare Ben Bulben's head, in Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid...').
- Benny
- from báinín, a man's overcoat (SLC)
- Bicker
- from béicire (roarer, bawler, bellower, prater), a loud squabble, a noisy altercation (SLC)
- Biddy
- from beadaí; beadaidhe (saucy, impudent; a flatterer, an impertinent person), a gossipy woman; a shrew; a name for an Irish servant girl (SLC)
- Big-Bug
- from (Big-)Boc, a big man, a big buck, a big "shot" (SLC)
- Big Onion
- from (Big) Annon ((big) beyond, far side), a moniker for New York City (SLC)
- Big Shot
- from (Big) Seód ((big) jewel), a very influential, important person, often used ironically (SLC)
- Bird
- from beart; beirt, an excellent, extraordinary thing (obsolete); a "raspberry", a Bronx cheer (SLC)
- Block
- from bealach, a city street, a city road (SLC)
- Blow(1)
- from bualadh, a hard stroke with the fist, a shock or disaster (SLC)
- Blow(2)
- from béalú, to snitch, inform on someone, to "squeal" (SLC)
- Blowen
- from bláthán (small flower, little blossom), the mistress of a thief; the sweetheart of a gangster (SLC)
- Blowhard
- from béalú h-ard, a loudmouth; a loud speaking person (SLC)
- bog
- (from bogach, 'a bog', or bog, 'soft') a piece of wet spongy ground
- Boob, booby
- from búb; búbaí; búbaire; búbán; búbail, a nincompoop, a cry-baby, a loud-mouth dolt (SLC)
- Booby hatch
- from búbaí háit, a home for the insane; a lock-up or jail (SLC)
- Boodle
- from babhtáil, bribe money (SLC)
- Boogaloo
- from Bogadh luath (moving fast, moving quick), a 1960s dance performed with fast swivelling shuffling movements of the body; to dance; to move fast (SLC)
- Boogy
- from bogadh, to dance; to move, to shake; Boogy music (SLC)
- Boondoggle
- from Buan díchiall (permanent-folly, perpetual-foolishness), a trivial, useless, or necessary undertaking; wasteful expenditure (SLC)
- Boot
- from babhta, what is given in exchange on terms of boot; swapping (SLC)
- Booze
- from beath-uisce; beathuisce, whiskey, aqua vita (SLC)
- boreen
- (from bóithrín) a small country road
- Boss
- from bas (boss; best, very good), a person or thing regarded as the best. A chief, the person in charge (SLC)
- bother
- (from bodhar, "deaf" or "to deafen") To annoy or disturb
- Bounce
- from bain as, to remove someone from a premises; to eject someone (SLC)
- Bozark
- from basóg, a woman's wrestling or boxing match (SLC)
- boycott
- from Captain Boycott, a harsh landlord, whose tenants refused to pay their rent to him because he treated them so badly.
- brack
- Type of bread with raisins, from the Irish word "breac" meaning "spotted"
- Brag
- from bréag (a lie, an exaggeration, a deceit, a deception), to boast, exaggerate or lie. A card game related to poker (SLC)
- Bragger
- from bréagóir, breagaire, someone who brags, exaggerates, and lies (SLC)
- Brat
- from brat (a rag, a garment, an article of outer clothing that may be laid aside), a mischievious young child (SLC)
- Brisk
- from briosc, quick, active, lively (SLC)
- brogues
- (from bróig, a shoe) A type of shoe.
- brogue
- A strong regional accent, especially an Irish one. Presumably used originally with reference to the footwear of speakers of the brogue.
- Bubba, bubber
- from bobaire, a thief, a drinker, a trickster (SLC)
- Buccaneer
- from boc aniar (western playboy or rogue, dashing young man from the west), a pirate (SLC)
- Buck
- from boc, a strong and spirited young man; a dashing fellow; also a dandy, a fop. Often used as a form of familiar address (SLC)
- Buckaroo
- from bocaí rua (a fierce buck, a rough wild rogue), a cowboy, a cattle drover, a roving, wild rogue of the western plains (SLC)
- Bud
- from bod, a nickname or form of address for a boy or man; friend, fellow, often used with hostile intent (SLC)
- Buddy
- from bodach, a friend, a chum, also a form of address to a boy or a man, sometimes with a hostile intent (SLC)
- Bullyrag
- from bollaireacht, bullying speech, loud prating (SLC)
- Bummer
- from bumaire, bomaire, a moocher, a bum, a loafer; a loud mouth, a doofus (SLC)
- Bunkum
- (From buanchumadh, invention; a long, made-up story) Nonsense or humbug, brought into common English speaking currency via the United States House of Representatives in 1820.
- Buster
- from pastaire, a fellow, a joker, a roisterer (SLC)
- Button
- from beart t-aon, the name for the dealer in poker. In casinos, where the house controls the deal, the button is indicated by a rotating disc, also called the button (SLC)
- By golly
- from bíodh geall air (I'll wager; I'm sure; I'll bet), an oath or exclamation (SLC)
C
- Caca
- from cac; caca, excrement, shit; often used as euphemism in presence of children (SLC)
- Cadger
- from cadéir; ceaidé, to go about as a cadger or pedlar, or on pretence of being one; to go about begging (SLC)
- Cady
- from gadaí, a thief, a highway man (SLC)
- Cahoot, cahoots
- from comh-údar (a co-author, co-originator, co-starter, co-instigator), in league or partnership with; to act in partnership (SLC)
- callow
- A low-lying meadow by an Irish river, liable to be flooded; a water-meadow. Also in adjectival use. This is derived from the English callow (originally, 'bald', or 'unfeathered', and now often 'inexperienced') but is a particularly Irish usage.
- Cant
- (From Caint, to speak) A private language, or phraseology peculiar to a particular class, party, profession, etc.
- Cantankerous
- from Ceanndánacht ársa (old obstinacy, aged wilfulness, elderly stubbornness), stubborn and quarrelsome (person), perverse, cranky; given to opposition, contrarious; difficult to deal with, intractable (SLC)
- Case
- from cas (to turn, to twist, wind coil), case keeper, keeping cases ( faro slang); also, to "case" a joint (SLC)
- Cheese (it)
- from téigh as, to shut up; to be quiet. Also, to run away, to "scram", to flee or escape (SLC)
- Cheesy
- from tiosach, cheap, of cheap material, second-rate; (someone or something) cheap, frugal, sparing, stingy (SLC)
- Chicken; to play chicken
- from teith ar cheann (to flee first, to retreat first, to abscond), a cowardly person, cowardly; to run away, dodge, or flinch first (SLC)
- Chuck
- from teilg (to cast, throw, sling), to throw, especially to throw or pitch a ball; tossing, discarding (SLC)
- Chucker
- from teilgeoir, a pitcher, a tosser (SLC)
- Clack
- from clag, the clapper of a mill; din of speech, senseless chatter; loud talk (SLC)
- clan
- In Irish, extended family; also in Irish it refers to the children of a nuclear family.
- Clean a clock, clean his clock
- from cling a clog (to ring his bell; to hit someone in his head), to clobber someone; to defeat totally (in boxing or a fight); to beat with your fists; to knock someone out (SLC)
- Clout
- from clabht, to hit or strike a person or object with force (SLC)
- Cock-eyed
- from Caoch-eyed, squint-eyed, cross-eyed; also, blind drunk (SLC)
- Cold-turkey
- from coillteoireacht, coillteoireachta, (slang phrase), to cut off a drug habit abruptly, without tapering off; applied to any habit that is cut off suddenly (SLC)
- colleen
- (from cailín) girl (usually referring to an Irish girl)
- Conducer
- from ceann-duaiseoir, ceann-duasóir (manager of prize winners), the carnival boss who controls the gimmick or gaff on the crooked gambling wheels and games of chance (SLC)
- Coon
- from cúán, a racist term for an African-American from the middle 1800s; also, a dolt or stupid person, who can be swayed easily (SLC)
- Cooze, cooz, coose
- from cuas, an extremely vulgar term for a woman; the female genitals; a woman viewed solely as a sex-object (SLC)
- Coochie
- from geáitse, geáitsí, a coochie dancer, a hootchie-coochie dancer, a belly-dancer; also, a "cooch", a bold, promiscuous girl (SLC)
- Cop
- from ceap (a protector, a leader, a chief; also, to seize, to stop, to catch, to intercept, to grab, to put into stocks or custody), (Slang) a police officer, a "copper"; also, to seize, to grab; to conceive, to think, to suspect (SLC)
- Cove
- from caomh, a man, a fellow, a rogue, a fellow-rogue (SLC)
- crack
- fun, Irish word (spelled 'craic' in Irish Gaelic) for fun/enjoyment that has been brought into the English language, usually when mixed with alcohol and/or music.
'Bhi craic agus ceol againn' : We had fun and music. Fun doesn't really cut it though. General banter, good times had by all. Also, a person who is good fun/great company.[1]. Nothing whatsoever to do with the drug crack.
- Cracker
- from cracaire (a boaster, a jester, a talker), a poor "white" person in the American South (SLC)
- crag
- (from carraig, 'rock') A steep or precipitous rugged rock. This is more likely, however, to have entered English from Old British than from Irish
- Crank(1)
- from crancaire (a boaster, a jester, a talker), a term for a baseball fan in late-19th and early-20 centuries (SLC)
- Crank(2), Cranky
- from crá aingí (fretful vexing, fretful misery, ill-natured torment), a cranky, crotchety, grouchy person; an eccentric, monomaniacal person, obsessed with some issue or idea; also, fretful, ill-natured, annoying, cross-tempered, vexing, very irritable, as in a "cranky" baby or old man (SLC)
- Crap, Crap Game, Craps
- from crath abair, a dice game (SLC)
- Croak
- from croch, to murder, to kill; to die; to hang (SLC)
- Croaked
- from crochta, hanged, executed, killed, murdered, died (SLC)
- Croaker
- from crochaire (a hangman, executioner, a gallow's bird, a wretch, a villain), a doctor or surgeon (SLC)
- Crony
- from comh-roghna (equally chosen, fellow chosen-ones, mutual sweethearts, fellow-favourites, close friends, mutual pals), a close intimate friend or associate; a pal, a chum (SLC)
- Cross
- from cros, (Slang), to double-cross; to cheat, betray, disobey (SLC)
- Cuffin
- from caomhán, a man, a fellow (SLC)
- Cully
- from cuallaí, cuallaidhe, a friend, a companion, a confederate (SLC)
- Cute, Cutie
- from ciúta (a pregnant saying; a clever hit in converstation, a clever innuendo, a clever quip, a wisecrack, an ingenious trick, a "knack"; an artistic touch; know-how), clever, cunning, sly, shrewd, anything clever, a song, a girl, a boy, a trick, a deception, (something or someone) attractive in a clever way, with an artistic touch or clever flare; also, an attractive, clever-looking person; a person who is cunning and shrewd; a clever trick; an upstart; one who thinks himself clever; a smart prize-fighter; anything that is clever; a gimmick, a trick, a sly deception (SLC)
D
- Dad, Daddy
- from daid, daidí, father; sugar daddy, a wealthy male lover who supports his mistress in return for sexual favours (SLC)
- Daddy-O
- from daideo (grand-dad, grandfather), an affectionate address fro a man who is hip (SLC)
- Darb
- from daarp, any excellent person or remarkable thing (SLC)
- Dander
- from tintrí (fiery, hot-tempered), an angry temper, as in the phrase "to get your dander up" (SLC)
- Darn
- from dothairne (damned, afflicted; evil, mischief, misfortune; affliction), a word of disgust, disappointment, a cursed thing, a light version of damn! (SLC)
- Dead Rabbit
- from Dead Ráibéad (a hulking person, a broad-shouldered, muscular man), the alleged name of an Irish-American gang in New York City's Five Points slum in the 1850s (SLC)
- Dear
- from daor, costly, expensive (SLC)
- Dick
- from dearc (an eye), a Pinkerton detective, a private eye, a spy, a plainclothes cop (SLC)
- dig
- (from the Irish 'tuig', 'dtuigean', to understand or 'get') To understand, or appreciate something: To dig it (also as "twig" to understand or realise.)
- Dingbat
- from duine bocht (poor person), a vagabond, a beggar, a hobo; a fool (SLC)
- Dinger
- from dian-mhaith, a remarkable person or thing; (something) very good (SLC)
- Ditch
- from de áit (off a place or spot; from a place or spot), to put off a train (hobo slang); abandon or discard a person or thing; displace someone or something (SLC)
- Dock
- from tobhach, to penalize a worker part of his pay, usually for being absent or late; to levy, assess, seize pay, levy against assets (SLC)
- Dogie
- from do-thóigthe (hard to rear, hard to fatten (as a calf)), a scrubby calf that has not wintered well and is anaemic from the scant food of the cold weather, also a dogey (SLC)
- Doggone
- from dogairne (a gross crude person or thing), an exclamation of irritation, disappointment; someone or something nasty, crude, gross; darned (SLC)
- Dogs
- from do chos, feet; specifically a pair of human feet (SLC)
- donnybrook
- (from pre-1855 Dublin's Donnybrook Fair) an altercation or fight
- Doodle
- from dúdalaí, a silly fellow (SLC)
- Doozer
- from duasóir, a remarkable, excellent, outstanding person or thing, a humdinger (SLC)
- Doozy, doosy, duzey
- from duasach, anything remarkable or excellent (SLC)
- Dork
- from dorc, a stupid person; an insignificant contemptible person (SLC)
- Dornick
- from dornóg, a stone handy for throwing; a small stone (SLC)
- Drag
- from de ráig (suddenly, hurriedly, with a rush, sudden acceleration), a short race between souped-up cars; also, a primary road in a city or town (SLC)
- drum
- (from droim, 'back') A ridge often separating two long narrow valleys; a long narrow ridge of drift or diluvial formation.
- drumlin
- (from droim, 'back' with a diminutive) A small rounded hill of glacial formation, often seen in series.
- Dude
- from dúd (a foolish-looking fellow; a dolt, a numbskull; a clown; an idiot; a rubbernecker; a long-necked eavesdropper), a dapper-dandy; a "swell", an affected, fastidious fop; a city slicker at a dude ranch (SLC)
- Duds
- from do éadach (your clothing, your clothes), an article of clothing, clothes (SLC)
- Duking, dukin'
- from tuargain (to beat, pound, batter, thump, hammer), beating, punching, pounding, battering, thumping, hammering (it out) (SLC)
- Dutch, "in dutch"
- from duais, in trouble, in disfavour (SLC)
E
- ecker
- Most often used in Dublin, meaning 'homework'. Derived from 'exercises' as assigned by schoolteachers.
- eejit
- the original pronunciation of idiot; a fool.
- esker
- (from eiscir) an elongated mound of post-glacial gravel, usually along a river valley.
- Eighty-six
- from éiteachas aíocht, éiteachas aíochta (denial of hospitality; refusal of lodging (for a night); refusal of service), to be barred from a saloon (or any place); to be denied hospitality (SLC)
F
- Fan-tod, Fan-tods
- from fonn taodach, an excited, impulsive frame of mind; restlessness; a fidget; a fuss; a fit (SLC)
- Faro
- (From Fairadh, to turn) Popular Card game.
- Fawney
- from fáinne, a ring (SLC)
- feck
- A version of fuck with all the sexual connatations removed. You'd never hear 'motherfecker', for instance.
- Feud
- from fuath ard (high hatred, great enmity), a state of hatred and enmity: between individuals, families, clans, nation-states, etc. (SLC)
- Finagle
- from fionna aclaí, fionnadh aclaí (agile contrivance, ingenious invention, adroit ascertainment), also phenagle, to contrive and scheme, to achieve or ascertain something through artifice; to manipulate, to deceive skilfully, to wangle (SLC)
- Fink
- from fionnachtain, fionnaíocht, fionnacht, a act as a labour spy; to act as an informer; to spy, to snoop; inform; also, a paid labour spy; a stool pigeon; an undercover detective; a strike-breaker (SLC)
- Flog ground sweat
- from fliuch grian-suite, to speak disrespectfully of the dead (SLC)
- fluke
- (From fo-luach, rare reward or occurrence) A stroke of good fortune, luck.
- Flunky
- from fulangaí (a prop, a support (for a person), someone who props up and supports a champion (or a chief)), a male servant in livery, especially a footman, a sideman, an attendant at your flank, a lackey; a term of contempt for anyone servile (SLC)
- Flush
- from flúirse (abundance, plenty), plentifully supplied (with money) (SLC)
- For fair
- from foirfe, completely; complete (SLC)
- Frame
- from fíor a éimiú (denying truth, to reject truth), conviction and imprisonment on trumped-up charges based on lies and false evidence; to prosecute someone with fabricated evidence or lies (SLC)
- Freak
- from fraoch, a freak of nature, a freak in a sideshow, a freak storm; sudden passion or fury; to become angry, furious, passionate, ferocious, wild, crazy (SLC
- Freaky
- from fraochaidhe, strange, unusual; frightening, frenzied, manic, mad, rabid, raving, wild (SLC)
G
- Gab
- from gab (a tattling mouth), to talk endlessly, to chatter; also, gabbing, talking, (act of) talking too much, the gift of the gab, fluency of speech, a gift for speaking; to reveal a confidence or secret, to snitch (SLC)
- Gaff
- from gaf, a hook; an iron hook, a fishing gaff; also, a ring to mark cards worn by a card mechanic (SLC)
- Gage, Gauge
- from gaid, (slang) marijuana (SLC)
- galore
- plenty, a lot. From go leor, Gaelic for many.
- Galusses
- from gealas, suspenders for trousers (SLC)
- Gam, Gams
- from gamba (a leg), a leg, legs, long, shapely legs (SLC)
- Gammy, gammi, gamy
- from cama (crooked), (someone or something) bad; crooked, or bent, as in a bandy leg (SLC)
- Gandy dancer
- from cinnte (constant, ever) dancer, a railroad track labourer whose work necessitates a constant jumping motion to gain leverage on a crowbar inserted under the railroad ties to straighten the tracks. Hence, the workers appear to doing a constant never-ending dance down the railroad tracks (SLC)
- Garnish
- from garanna ar ais (favours back, good turns returned, favours reciprocated), money extorted from a new prisoner as a jailer's fee; money given in return for better treatment by jailers (SLC)
- Gash
- from gairse, sexual activity; obscene term for a woman; a vagina (SLC)
- Gawk
- from géag, a young awkward person, an immature, clumsy, person (SLC)
- Gawky
- from géagaí, (of a young person) awkward, ungainly (SLC)
- Gee
- from Dia (God, a god), An exclamation of surprise or enthusiasm; also used for emphasis (SLC)
- Gee Whiz
- from Dia Uas! (great god! Good God! Noble God! High God! Lofty God!), an exclamation like gee, originating in the U.S., and said to be a euphemism for the name of Jesus (SLC)
- Geek
- from ciabhach, (carnival and circus slang), a hairy, bushy, animalistic performer whose show consisted of grotesque acts like biting the head off a live chicken. Any hairy, unkempt, odd-looking person. Post-1990s, a brilliant, long-haired, dishevelled computer geek (SLC)
- Geezer
- from gaosmhar, gaosach (a wise person, a "wiseguy"), a fellow, a guy; an old eccentric man (SLC)
- Geister
- from gastaire, a thief's confederate (SLC)
- Gibberish
- from geab ar ais, gab ar ais (back talk, backward chat), jargon, the disguised speech of the underworld. "Unintelligible" speech belonging to no known language; inarticulate chatter (SLC)
- Gigger
- from gíogaire (a squeaker), a latch; a door (SLC)
- Giggle
- from gíog gheal (a happy squeak, a merry squeal, a slight, joyful squeak), a merry, squeaking laugh. A happy squeal (SLC)
- Gilpin, gulpin
- from guilpín, a lout, a jerk, an ill-mannered cur (SLC)
- Gimmick
- from camóg (Irish), camag (Gaelic), a gadget; a contrivance for dishonesty regulating a gambling game, an article used in a conjuring trick; a tricky or ingenious device, gadget, or idea (SLC)
- Giniker
- from tine caor (a raging fire, lightning, a ball of flame), pep, enthusiasm, jazz. A 1913 synonym for "jazz" (SLC)
- Gink
- from geanc, geannc, geancaire, a fellow, a man, a hobo (frequently pejorative) (SLC)
- Gism, gissom
- from teas ioma (an abundance of heat, passion, excitement), passion, enthusiasm, energy; semen (SLC)
- Glim
- from gealaim, a candle; a fire; a lamp; a light of any kind; a window, an eye (SLC)
- Glom, glaum
- from glám (grab, snatch), to grab, snatch; to steal (SLC)
- Glommer
- from glámaire, a grabber; a thief (SLC)
- gob
- (literally beak) mouth. It most likely entered English, however, from Gaulish cognate.
- gobbo
- via French gobe 'mouthful', 'lump' (cf. gober 'gulp', 'swallow down')
- gobshite
- a fool, one held in contempt; vulgar. See eejit.
- Goo Goo, Goo Goos
- from guth (a voice, a human voice; a sound, an utterance; a complaint, a reproach; blame, censure), a derisive moniker given to upper-class "reformers" and "good government" types by Irish-Americans (SLC)
- Goof
- from gáifeach (exaggerated, given to wild exaggeration, flamboyant, ostentatious, loud, loud-mouthed; querulous, a stupid person, a buffoon; a half-crazy person, a loudmouth, a showoff; a goofball, a "nut case"; also, a stupid mistake (SLC)
- Goofy
- from gáifeach (as "goof"), stupid, foolish, wild, crazy (as if on drugs), loud-mouthed, daft (SLC)
- Goon
- from guan, a fool (SLC)
- Gopher Gang
- from Comhbhá (alliance (gang), close alliance) Gang, Hell's Kitchen Irish gang in the early-20th century (SLC)
- Graft(1)
- from grafa, grafadh (grubbing, srounging, hoeing), (orig. U.S.), profits from politics, called "contributions" today. Graft is whatever can be grubbed by politicians and government officials in exchange for votes, influence, and favours (SLC)
- Graft(2)
- from grafa, grafadh, (Australian slang), work, especially hard work (SLC)
- Grifter
- from grafadóir (a grubber, a scrounger), a con-man (SLC)
- Grouch
- from cráite (tormented, troubled, vexed, pained; annoyed), an irritable, cross, vexatious person (SLC)
- Ground-sweat
- from grian suite (a sunny site, a sunny spot), a grave (SLC)
- Growler
- from gearr-ól úr (a fresh, quick-drink, a fresh short-drink, a fresh small-drink), a small can used to carry fresh beer home from a saloon (SLC)
- Grumble
- from gruaim béil, gruaim béal (gloomy speech, sullen speech, discontented, surly speech, complaining talk), complain, mutter in discontent (SLC)
- Guffaw
- from gáire foghar, gáire foghrach (laughing sound or noise), a burst of coarse laughter; a loud or boisterous laugh (SLC)
- Gump
- from colm (a dove, a pigeon), a chicken (SLC)
- Gunga Din
- from Gungaire Dian! Gungaire, dian! (Quick Little Skinny-Rump; Little Skinny-Ass, (come) quick!), a nickname given to an Indian water carrier by Irish "grunts" in the British colonial army in India in the 1890s (SLC)
- Guzzle
- from gus óil, gus ól (a vigorous drink; high-spirited vigorous drinking , (act of) gulping down a drink), to drink with great vigour, to drink greedily (SLC)
H
- Hack
- from each (a horse, a steed), a horse, or horse-carriage, let out for hire; a hackney; (deprecatively) a sorry old horse, a drudge; later applied figuratively to any common hack, as in a political hack, or hack writer. A prison guard (SLC)
- Hackey
- from eachaí (a horseman), a hack-driver; a horse-carriage driver, (modern) a cab driver (SLC)
- Hackney
- from each ceannaich (a post-horse, hose kept at an inn or post-house for use by mail carriers, or for rent to travellers; a purchase-horse, a hire horse), a horse let out for hire; a draught-horse; a horse and small carriage for hire; (20th century) a motor driven cab (SLC)
- Hanker
- from an-ghá (a great need, a very great want), a craving or yearning; to crave or yearn (SLC)
- Heckle
- from éamh call (screaming out complaints; ranting, scolding), to verbally harass, to rant (SLC)
- Heckler
- from éamh callaire (a shouting ranter; a screaming loudmouth; a loud shouting scold), a person who shouts loud abuse (SLC)
- Heeler, ward heeler
- from éilitheoir (one who demands or charges; a petitioner; a claimer; a friendly petitioner, a claimsman, an advocate; one who makes friendly enquiries about; one who visits in a friendly manner), a ward-level political representative; the foot soldier of the old Irish-American urban political machine (SLC)
- Helter skelter
- from áilteoir scaoilte (a run amuck clown; an unconstrained wild prankster; a loose-limbed trickster; a joker running loose. The Joker is wild!), in disordered haste; confusedly, tumultuously, pell-mell (SLC)
- Henry Colton
- from An Rí Ghealltain (the King of Bets, the King of wagering), the king of the faro gamblers in New York City in the 1840s (SLC)
- Hep, hip
- from aibí (mature, quick, clever, quick-witted), well-informed, knowledgeable, wise, in-the-know; smart; stylish (SLC)
- Hick
- from aitheach, athach (a churl, a peasant, a peasant), a peasant, a rural person, a country fool (SLC)
- Hinky
- from ainigí, bad, wicked; suspicous; wrong; odd; insecure; jumpy; untrustworthy (SLC)
- Hinky Dink
- from ainigíocht tanaidh (slim wickedness. "Slim Wicked" (Kenna)), Kenna was the diminutive leader of Chicago's wide-open " Levee District", from the late-1880s to the early-1920s, along with his hulking, dapper partner, "Bathhouse" John Coughlin (SLC)
- Hoax
- from olcas (mischief, naughtiness, spite; wickedness, evil, misfortune), deliberate trickery; something intended to deceive; also, to gain an advantage, fraud, deception, dupery; to joke or deceive (SLC)
- Hocus
- from olcas (mischief, naughtiness, spite; wickedness, evil, misfortune), a deceiver, a hoaxer; mischief; (underworld slang) opium; also, to curse or jinx; to deceive; to drug someone (SLC)
- Hokum
- from oll-chumadh (a huge made-up story, a vast invention), bunk or bunkum; (theatre and vaudeville slang) any stage device, gag, or routine, designed solely to please an audience (SLC)
- Holler
- from oll-bhúir (a terrific yell, a great roar), a loud yell, a loud complaint; figuratively an African-American work-song; also, to shout; to complain to the cops (SLC)
- Holy Cow
- from Holy Cathú (sorrow; grief; trial), an oath and exclamation of surprise, regret, consternation, relief, etc. (SLC)
- Holy Gee
- from Holy Dia (God), an oath and exclamation of surprise, consternation, relief (SLC)
- Holy Mackerel
- from Holy Mac ríúil (Royal Son; Noble Son; Princely Son), an oath and exclamation of surprise, consternation, amazement, relief, etc. (SLC)
- Holy Moly
- from Holy Moladh (praise, praising; a song of praise, a panegyric, a eulogy), an exclamation of surprise, amazement, awe (SLC)
- Honky
- from aingí, aingidhe (wicked, bad, evil; fretful; furious), an African-American racial epithet for white people (SLC)
- Honky Tonk
- from aingíocht tarraingeach (alluring wickedness; seductive evil), a cheap saloon, featuring gambling, dancing, prostitution, drugs, and wild, wicked behaviour (SLC)
- Hoodoo
- from Uath Dubh (dark spectre, evil phantom, a malevolent thing; horror, dread; a dark, spiky, evil-looking thing), a cause of bad luck, a jinx; a person or thing whose presence brings bad luck; a magician or necromancer; an evil spirit; an eerie-looking rock pinnacle, or earth pillar, formed by erosion and nature; a mountain in Canada (SLC)
- Hot diggity
- from árd-iachtach-tach! (a loud oath; a loud declaration; crying out loud!), exclamation of excitement and delight (SLC)
- Hot dog
- from ard-tach (loud oath! Loud declaration as in "I declare!"), exclamation of excitement and happiness (SLC)
- Hot Sketch
- from ard scairt (loud laugh, loud scream; great guffaw), a lively, funny, colourful character; a card, someone who is a laugh or a scream (SLC)
- Hudson Dusters
- from Hudson Dusta (dust, figuratively cocaine), an early-20th New York Irish gang (SLC)
- Humdinger
- from iomar-dian-mhaith (something or someone) very good, very outstanding), (something or someone) very good, or outstanding; also, remarkable (SLC)
- Hunch
- from aithint (knowledge, recognition, perception, discernment, intuition), an intuitive premonition; a sense of knowing or perceiving something (SLC)
I
- Ice
- from prefix, ios- (minimum), the graft a carnival owner has to pay to local authorities to set up and operate in a locale. If the carnival uses "flat joints", crooked games, or rigged prize wheels, or if it carries a contingent of grifters and three-card-monte games, the ice goes up. Carnivals with "Cooch" shows also paid more (SLC)
- Ikey Heyman
- from Ag Céimigh (stepping, treading(axle), a hidden axle or foot-brake, axle, (carnival and circus slang), a hidden foot pedal, or foot brake that controls a wheel of fortune or prize wheel. The gimmick (SLC)
J
- Jack
- from tiach (a small purse, a wallet, a budget), money (SLC)
- Jackpot
- from tiach-(money, purse)pot, the pot of jack at the end of every gambler's rainbow (SLC)
- Jack-roll
- from tiach-(money, purse)roll, to "roll" or rob a drunk of his "jack", meaning his wallet or his money (SLC)
- Jag(1)
- from tiach, tiag (a satchel, a knapsack; a vessel; a small bag, a wallet, a purse), a load for the back; a pedlar's wallet; a pocket; a saddle-bag; a satchel (SLC)
- Jag(2)
- from deoch (drink), to be drunk, "on the drink"; a prolonged drinking spree or "bender". Later applied to any period of obsessive indulgence in a thing, emotion, or interest, etc., a crying jag (SLC)
- Jake
- from deach (best, the best), good, satisfactory, okay, the best; approved of, fixed, as in: "Everything was 'jake' with the police..." (SLC)
- Jasm,gism
- from teas ioma (an abundance of heat and passion), an abundance of energy, enthusiasm, passion; semen (SLC)
- Jass
- from teas (heat, passion, excitement, highest temperature), an early spelling for jazz (SLC)
- Jazz
- (from Teas, Heat, enthusiasm, passion) An American slang term denoting passion, heat and a euphemism for sex which became a Musical style.
- Jazzbo, Jasbo, Jazz-bo
- from teasbach, teaspach (of person) animal spirits, exuberance; heat, liveliness, ardour, passion, slutriness; heat of the blood; wantonness; (of horse) spiritedness, tendency to cavort; (of cattle) tendency to gad about), (someone or something) infused with great heat, passion, enthusiasm, high spirits, and excitement. Vaudeville slang for wild physical comedy; exuberant slapstick, hokum (SLC)
- Jazzy
- from teasaí (hot, warm, ardent, passionate, exciting, fervent, enthusiastic, spirited, fiery), spirited, lively, exciting, hot (SLC)
- Jerk
- from Déirceach (a beggar, a mendicant, someone who takes charity), someone of little or no account; a fool, a stupid person; a loser (SLC)
- Jiffy, jeffy
- from deifir (hurry, haste; speed, hustle), a very short space of time; only in phrases as "in a jiffy", in a hurry (SLC)
- Jizz
- from teas (excitment, heat, passion, ardour), excitement, heat passion. Jizz is mainly used in Ireland in the phrase, "put some jizz into it!" (SLC)
- John
- from teann (a champion; a firm man; (figuratively) a well-to-do man; a support; a resource; also, wealthy, well-to-do, strong, well-established, steadfast), a sugar daddy who is keeping his girlfriend, i.e., paying her expenses in return for sexual favours; (obsolete) a girl's steady boyfriend; the cliient of a prostitute (SLC)
- Joint
- from díon, díonta (a shelter, a roof, state of being wind and watertight), "Almost any building, apartment, room, or sheltered area... A joint may mean any kind of saloon, speakeasy, nightclub, café, eating place, soda fountain, hotel, house, apartment, room, store, or any other place. It may be a carnival concession, a jail, a dance hall, an opium or marijuana den, a hangout, a poolroom, a garage, etc." (SLC)
- Juke joint
- from diúg (to drink, tipple, drink to the dregs; to drain; to suck) joint, a roadhouse with booze and music and dancing (SLC)
K
- kibosh
- 'To put the kibosh on' is to do for something, finish it off. The OED says the origin is obscure and possibly Arabic or Yiddish, but it may be from the Irish an cháip bháis, 'the cap of death' [1] or cabáiste, cabbage [2].
- keen
- (from caoin, 'to cry') to lament, to wail mournfully
- Keister
- from ciste (a chest, a coffer; a store; a treasure; a treasure-chest), a safe, a strongbox; a suitcase; a salesman's display-case; a pocket; (figuratively) buttocks (SLC)
- Kid
- from Cuid (share, part, portion; a term of endearment; love, affection), a young goat; a child; a term of affection; a moniker (SLC)
- Kike
- from Ciabhóg (a person adorned with a forelock or sidelock; also, a forelock, a sidelock), a vulgar offensive name for a Jew (SLC)
- Kinker
- from Geanncach (snubby, surly, rude, snooty), a (stuck-up) circus performer, a circus act (SLC)
- Kitty
- from cuid oíche (a night's entertainment or lodging; a share, part, or portion of the night; a supper; a "cuiddihy". The kitty also became a name for the money and swag that a faro banker cut up at the end of the night with his crew: the mechanic (dealer), case keeper, cappers, ropers, and shills), a pot or pool of money, made up of contributions from several people; a pool into which each player in a card-game puts a certain amount of their winnings, to be used in meeting expenses, room rent, refreshments, food, etc.; the money taken by the winner of a game (SLC)
- Knack
- from gnách, gnáth (custom; manner; practice; usage, habit, experience; a common, familiar, usual practice), a special skill or aptitude; an acquired faculty of doing something skilfully; a personal habit of acting or speaking in a particular way. (Obsolete) a trick, a deception (SLC)
- Knicknack, nicknack
- from neamhghnách (unusual, uncommon, uncustomary; also, (something) extraordinary, unusual, uncommon), a curiosity; a small, unusual article, more for ornament or sentiment or use (SLC)
- Kook
- from Cuach (a cuckoo; a squeaky voice (like a cuckoo); a fool), a crazy, eccentric person; someone who is cuckoo (SLC)
L
- Lag
- from Lag, a weak person or thing, a feeble person; a weak creature; also, to slacken one's pace, as from weakness or sloth; to fail to keep the pace with others; to hang back, fall behind, remain in the rear (SLC)
- Lam
- from léim (to jump, to leap, to bound; to fly up or out; to start suddenly; to attack; to rush at), on the run, a hurried escape; also, to be in flight from the law; to jump bail, or escape custody; to beat, to strike; to attack (SLC)
- leprechaun
- - elf, sprite (from leipreachán)
- Lick
- from leag (to knock down; to throw down; to put down (as a wrestler); to demolish; to destroy; to fell; to lay low; to bring down, to lay down), to beat; to overcome, to defeat, to surpass (SLC)
- loch
- (from loch) A lake, or arm of the sea; this has entered English by various routes; one derivation is most obvious (but then the spelling is usually 'lough'), and in Anglo-Irish and in various northern English dialects the origin is Gaelic.
- Lollygag, lallygag
- from leath-luighe géag (a reclining, leaning, lolling youth; (figurative) a youthful layabout), to idle; to dawdle; to loll about; to kiss, fondle, to neck (SLC)
- Longshore
- from loingseoir (a shipman, boatman, mariner, sailor; anyone who works with ships), existing or frequenting on the docks; (someone or something) close to docks or ships. Longshoreman, a dockworker who unloads cargo from ships (SLC)
- Loogin
- from Leath-dhuine (a half-wit, a fool, an idiot), a fool, an idiot (SLC)
- Lucre
- from luach óir (reward of gold, wages of gold, price of gold, payment of money), gain, profit, advantage (now only with unfavourable implication); gain for a low devious reason; filthy lucre, foul lucre (SLC)
- Lulu, a lulu
- from liú lúith (a howl, a scream, a vigorous yell of joy; a loud wail or cry), an amazing person or thing; (someone or something) remarkable or amazing; often used ironically or sarcastically (SLC)
- Lunch
- from lóinte (food, rations, provisions), a meal most often taken at midday (SLC)
- Luncheon
- from lóintean (food, fare, provisions; an abundance of food), a (formal) lunch (SLC)
M
- Ma
- from Máthair (mother, source), mother (SLC)
- Mac, Mack
- from Mac (son; boy; young person; fellow; descendant), a man; a fellow; a term of direct address (SLC)
- Machree
- from mo chroí (my heart), a term of affection (SLC)
- Macushla
- from mo chuisle (my (heart's) pulse), a term of affection; my darling, my loved one (SLC)
- Mammy
- from Mamaí (mammy; a childish name for a mother), mother (SLC)
- Mark
- from marc (a target; a goal; (of person) a mark), the target of a scam, or crooked gambling game, a sucker (SLC)
- Mark Anthony, Mark Antony
- from Marc andána (a rash and reckless mark, a foolish mark), a super sucker (SLC)
- Masher
- from maise (adornment, beauty, comeliness, attractiveness), a dandy; a fashionable young man of the late Victorian era; a man fond of the company of women; (in the U.S.) a handsome male flirt; (pejorative) a womaniser; a lout who makes indecent advances towards women (SLC)
- Mash
- from maise (attractiveness), maiseach (attractive, beauteous, handsome), love; to attract amorous attention; a crush (SLC)
- Mavourneen
- from mo mhuirnín (my dear one, my love), a term of affection like macushla (SLC)
- Mawley
- from mayle, Irish Traveller Cant (a hand, from Irish maille, a tool), a hand; boxing gloves (SLC)
- Mayhem
- from maidhm, maoim (a violent eruption; a burst, a rupture; an explosion; a crash; a battle; a complete defeat, a rout; an overwhelming blow; a severe injury), violent behaviour; assault; severe injury; wild chaos, confusion, disorder; also, to inflict physical injury on someone, to cause chaos, disorder, also used figuratively (SLC)
- Mick
- from mic (sons, boys, children, descendants; a term of affection), a derogatory slang term for an Irish person. (Australia) A Roman Catholic (SLC)
- Mihall
- from meitheal (a working party; a gan or a party, especially of reapers, a number of men employed at any special work, as hay-making, turf-cutting), a "code" name for a Transit Workers Union (TWU) meeting in New York City in the 1930s and 1940s. The Irish language was used by TWU organisers as a secret language to confound finks (informers) and beakies (supervisors) (SLC)
- Mill
- (obsolete; cant) from mill (to break, to injure; to damage, to destroy), to rob; to break, to kill; to box; also, a boxing match (SLC)
- Miller
- from míle (a warrior; a soldier; a champion, a hero), a boxer; a murderer (SLC)
- Moniker
- from munik, Irish Traveller Cant (a name), an (assumed) name, a nickname, an underworld name (SLC)
- Moolah, moola, mullah, mola
- from moll óir, mol óir (a heap of gold or money), money (SLC)
- mot
- In Dublin, 'my girlfriend' would be 'me mot'. The fact that the 't' is not strongly pronounced suggests relation with Irish maith 'good' (perhaps via cailín maith, 'good girl'), but it is in fact a shortended version of the Irish Language word "Moth", which translates to Penis and was used as a euphemism for sex.
- Muck
- from múch (to smother; to cover over, to deaden, to suppress, to bury), (poker slang) to fold cards, to turn your cards over face down in centre of the table; to "kill" your cards; to "bury" your hand; also, the pile of dead cards covered over facedown in the centre of the (poker) table (SLC)
- Mug(1)
- from muc (a pig; anything resembling a pig or a hog; (of person) a piggish, hoggish individiual, a swine; a scowl; a beetled brow, a scowling face; a piggish face), a face, an ugly face; a scowling face; a rude, rough person; a boxer; a gangster, a criminal; (criminal slang) a policeman (SLC)
- Mug(2)
- from múch (to smother; suffocate, choke; press upon, squeeze together; stifle, throttle; destroy; quell, pacify), the act of strangling, choking a person. Mugged, strangled, choked; assaulted from behind with a chokehold (SLC)
- Muggy
- from múchadh (smothering, suffocating, choking; stifling, stuffy), humid, warm sultry weather, having a stuffy, stifling, smothering atmosphere (SLC)
- Mugsy, Muggsy
- from muc saobh (a twisted, scowling face), a moniker for a mug. The most famous "Mugsy" was the film character "Mugsy" Mc Ginnis, played by actor Leo Gorcy in more than seventy Hollywood films, made between the 1930s and 1950s, about a group of New York City slum kids called the "Bowery Boys" or the "Dead End Kids". "Mugsy" was the Irish American gang leader (SLC)
- Mullarkey, malarkey, malachy
- from meallacach (alluring, charming, beguiling, deceitful), exaggerated foolish talk, usually intended to deceive, seduce, or charm; beguiling baloney (SLC)
- Mutt
- from mada, madadh, madra (a dog, especially an inferior breed, a cur, a mutt), (US Slang) a dog, especially a mongrel; an inferior, lowbred animal or person. A lowbred person; a person of hybrid ancestry; often used affectionately (SLC)
N
- Nag
- from n-each (horse), a horse; a worn out horse; a racehorse (SLC)
- Nan, Nanny, Nana
- from nain, naing (grandmother), grandmother (SLC)
- Natty
- from néata (neat, nice, affable), neat, sharp looking (SLC)
- Nincompoop, nikumpoop
- from naioid (ar) chuma búb (an infantile idiot, a baby in the shape of a blubbering boob), a ninny; a fool; a blubbering dolt (SLC)
- Ninny
- from naoidheanach, naoidheanta (childish, childlike, infantile), a simpleton, a childlike fool (SLC)
- Nugy, nugy, noog
- from aonóg (a nip, a pinch), a rub, rap, or whack on the head with the knuckles (SLC)
- Nut, nuts
- from neart (strength, power, force, energy, vigour; might; ability, skill; abundance, a suffiency, enough), the nut hand is the most powerful hand in a poker game, also called the nuts; anything or anyone excellent; basic fixed expenses, overhead; (underworld) the minimum payoff to police to stay in business; a devoted enthusiast, an avid fan; someone with an acquired talent, skill, or knowledge; a testicle; a head; a crazy person; also, to be very fond of someone or something (SLC)
O
P
- Pash
- from páis (passion), a long and enthusiastic kiss; passion (SLC)
- Pet
- from peata (a pet, a favourite, a tamed animal; the youngest of a family; a pet child, pet lamb, pet bird), a favourite animal or child; a spoiled child; a favourite of any kind (SLC)
- Pharaon
- from fiar araon (to turn both, to turn two together), an early name from the gambling game of faro (SLC)
- phoney
- (from fáinne, ring) fake (term originating from Irish immigrants in US referring to fake gold rings illegally marketed there)
- Pigeon
- from béidéan, biaideán (a false accuser, a calnumiator), (underworld) an informer; a stool pigeon (SLC)
- Piker
- from picear, Gaelic (a rogue, a mean fellow; an avaricious person; a pilferer; a vagrant; a coward), a timid gambler who makes only small bets; a stingy person; a vagrant; a coward (SLC)
- Pill
- from peil (a ball, a football; Irish football; a large potato), a baseball or golf ball (SLC)
- Plunge
- from bail ainnis, hobo slang (miserable wretched prosperity, a pittance), a hobo's stash of money. To take a plunge meant to make a pittance through begging (SLC)
- Pogue ma hone, pug mahone, pugga mahone
- from póg mo thóin (kiss my rump; kiss my bottom; kiss my ass), kiss my ass (SLC)
- Poke
- from poc (a bag, a pack), (hobo, carnival underworld slang) a wallet, pocket or purse; money (SLC)
- Poker(1)
- (from Póca, 'pocket') Gambling game, dominated by the Irish in America in the 1800s and early 1900s.
- Poker (2)
- from púca (a hobgoblin, a bogey, a sprite or ghost), any frightful object, especially in the dark; a bugbear (SLC)
- poteen
- (from poitín, 'small pot') hooch, bootleg alcoholic drink, usually of disturbing potency
- Policy
- from pá lae sámh (easy payday (game)), the policy game, the "Numbers Game" or policy racket in New York, New Orleans, and Texas (SLC)
- Poultice
- from ball deas (a nice place, a pretty spot, a southern place), (hobo slang) the land of milk and honey; the southern route (SLC)
- Puck, pook, pooka
- from púca (a pooka, a hobgoblin, a bogey, a sprite), poker, an evil demon, a mischievous sprite or spirit; a hobgoblin (SLC)
- Pud
- from bod (penis), penis (SLC)
- Punk
- from ponach, Gaelic (boy, lad), a comptemptuous term for a young boy or man; a young hood; (circus, carnival, show business) a youth or novice, a young animal; a hobo's young companion; a young gay male (SLC)
- Puncher
- from paintéar (a tying cord or rope, a noose, a lasso, a snare for catching animals, which is formed by rope or cord made fast at one end, while the other end terminates in a running noose through which the animal is caught), a cowboy (SLC)
- Puss
- from pus (a lip, the mouth (generally only in contempt), a sukly expression, a pouty mouth), a mouth, a face, a sour, pouting face; an ugly puss (SLC)
- Pussy(1)
- from pusa (lips; (Latin) labia)), (Slang) vagina (SLC)
- Pussy(2)
- from pusaire (a whimperer, a blubberer, a whiner, a whinger, a crybaby), an effeminate male; a wimp; a whiner; a crybaby (SLC)
Q
- Quare
- from corr (odd, occasional; queer, peculiar, strange; dismal, unusual; uneven, rounded, curved; peaked, projecting); corra, córr, Gaelic (excellent, great, eminent; odd, not even, singular), (Hiberno-English) odd, eccentric, strange, unusual; (intensive) great (SLC)
- Queer
- from corr (odd, occasional; peculiar, eccentric, strange; dismal, unusual; uneven), odd, strange, peculiar, eccentric, in appearance or character; of questionable character, suspicious, dubious, queer fellow, an eccentric person; a homosexual; to look queer or odd; (thieves' cant) bad; worthless; also, counterfeit money. Queer-, prefix, odd-, eccentric-, peculiar-. Also, to spoil, or put out of order; to tamper with, to spoil, to disturb, to queer the deal, queer the pitch, queer the game (SLC)
- Quirk
- from corrach (unstable, uneven, unsteady, shifty, uneasy, unsettled. (Of Persons) shifty, unreliable. Also, (Gaelic) abrupt, passionate; inconsistent; wavering; unsteady, unstable), pecularity of manner; an abrupt turn or twist, a sudden shift; a facial or physical tic (SLC)
- Quirky
- from corraiceach (unsteady; odd; shifty), tricky, shifty, odd; full of quirks or shifts (SLC)
- quiz
- word allegedly invented by a Richard Daly, a Dublin theatre owner, in the late 18th century as result of a bet that he would introduce a new word to the English language overnight. This is a myth, however. A slang-word quiz meaning 'odd fellow' is first recorded in 1782 (whence quizzical) A more likely derivation is the Latin "quis?" meaning "who?" - the normal first word of any quiz question.
R
- Rabbit
- from ráibéad (a hulking person; a big man), "A rowdy. 'Dead Rabbit, a very athletic fellow" (SLC)
- Racket(1)
- from raic ard (loud uproar, noisy quarrel, loud disturbance; also, noisy fun and sport; a shindig), disturbance, loud noise, uproar, din; a loud quarrel; noisy disorderly conduct; a police social function in New York City; a party at Manhattan College in the 1960s; a "beer racket" (SLC)
- Racket(2)
- from ragaireachd Gaelic (violence; extortion, oppression, roguery). Racaireacht (dealing, selling). Ragair (an extortioner, a violent man, villain, rogue, deceiver), organised crime as business; any occupation (legitimate or not); a carnival or circus concession; a scam (SLC)
- Racketeer
- from racadóir, reacadóir (a dealer, a seller, a sportive character, a dashing fellow; an extortionist), a gangster-businessman; someone in the business of organised crime (SLC)
- Rag
- from ráig (a rush, gadding about, an impulse, impulsiveness, a fit of madness, frivolity, happiness, lightheartedness, acting the fool, revelry, noise), a highly syncopated music originating among African-Americans, said to be derived from the "ragged" music of the cakewalk. Ragtime (SLC)
- Ragged
- from ráigíocht (strolling about; acting the tramp; vagabonding; slumming about; gadding; acting outrageously ; frivolity, noise), an early name for ragtime; music played during the cakewalk (SLC);
- Raspberry, razzberry
- from raiseadh búirthí (a bellowing flood; a roaring spout, a bellowing blast), a Bronx cheer. Sharp, harsh criticism or rebuke; "specifically, a vulgar derisive noise made by sticking the tongue between the lips and then blowing vigorously; the bird..." (SLC)
- Razz
- from rais (a blast, a burst; a volley; a rush; a flood), to verbally blast someone, to verbally harass and deride; to rip into someone with words; to tear into a person with shouts and curses; to give someone the " raspberry" or the " bird" (SLC)
- Razzamatazz
- from roiseadh mórtas (a blast of high spirits and exultation; a burst of boastfulness and bragging), showing off, high spirits, excitement, boastful baloney, publicity, hype (SLC)
- Rhino
- from rianú (engraving, cutting, etching, scratching), a cant term for money; ready rhino, ready cash; "scratch" (SLC)
- Ring, "ring in"
- from roinn (to deal; to distribute, to trade; also, dealing (cards)), to surreptitiously deal in a marked deck of cards, or a pair of loaded dice (SLC)
- Rip
- from rop, rob, rap, rab (a brute, an animal, a pig), a worthless, dissolute fellow. A little rip is a mischievous child (SLC)
- River Card
- from ríohmaire (calculator (card), reckoner (card), counter (card), computer (card)), also known as "Fifth Street". The river card is the final card in Texas Hold 'em poker. It is the card of final calculations and bets (SLC)
- Rollick
- from ramhallach (a rave; also, raving, wild, joyful; having a good time; going on a spree), a rave; a wild good time; also, to frolic, to rave, to go on a rave or a spree; to be carefree; to go on a ramble or escapade. Rollicking, raving, wild, joyful; having a good time; going on a spree (SLC)
- Rookie
- from rúca, rúcach (a raw, inexperienced person, a novice; a rough rawboned person; a clown, a rustic, a rural person, a hick, a boor), a recruit, a raw inexperienced person, a novice (SLC)
- Root
- from rad, radadh (to rant, to rave, to harangue, to yell, to bellow). Rabhd, Gaelic (a rant; a boast; coarse, unbecoming language; a harangue), to cheer wildly, to yell, to harangue, to rant and rave; to give support and encouragement for someone or something (like a team or a political candidate); to cheer enthusiastically for a team (SLC)
- Rub
- from rop, ropadh (to dart, to dash, to rush, to run; also, rushing, dashing, darting), to run; to run away (SLC)
- Ruffler, rufler
- from ráflálaí (a rumourmonger, a noisy chatterer, a gossip, a spreader of canards), a braggart, a swaggering vagabond, an arrogant fellow (SLC)
S
- Sap
- from sop (a wisp of straw; a usless lout, a cowardly weak fellow; a silly person), a fool, a weak ineffectual person, an easy mark, a pushover (SLC)
- Scally
- from scolla a term of contempt, a contemptible, churlish person; also, a sickly looking animal or person), "... slang term, originally used in the north-west of England to describe the unemployed working class, who have little or no education, and are stereotypically involved in antisocial behaviour, and sports fans" (SLC)
- Scallawag, scallywag
- from scolla-wag, scollaire-wag, scallaire-wag (Irish English Compound), a churlish-wag; a sickly looking animal), (originally U.S. Slang) a rogue, a contemptible fellow; a good-for-nothing; a mean, rude fellow; (U.S Reconstruction Era) a corrupt, political rogue, a carpetbagger, a blackguard; also (used affectionately and humorously) a mischievous male of any age; also, undersized, sickly looking cattle (SLC)
- Scam
- from s'cam é (it is a trick, it is a deception; it is a fraud), a crooked trick, a deceit, a swindle; a con, a racket; also, to swindle, to defraud (SLC)
- Scoot
- from sciurd (to rush, to dash, to fly quickly, to hurry, to run quickly; to squirt), to go suddenly, to rush, to dart; to go away hurriedly; to move or convey suddenly or swiftly; also, to squirt (SLC)
- Scrag
- from scrog, scroig (a neck; especially a small thin neck; a long stretched neck; (Figurative), a neck that has been stretched on the gallows; also, a mean person), a lean person; a thin neck of mutton, an animal neck, a human neck; (derisive) a mean person. (Slang) to hang on the gallows, to get your neck stretched; (Figurative) to kill or execute (someone) (SLC)
- Scram
- from scaraim (I get away, I escape, I depart; I separate), to depart hastily; to get away, to "split" (SLC
- Screw
- from scaradh (getting away, escaping, departing; separating; (Figurative) splitting), to scram; to leave or depart hastily (SLC)
- Scoop
- from scuab (to sweep, to snatch away; sweeping; snatching), (newspaper vernacular) to sweep the competition; to snatch away an exclusive from a rival; to beat someone to a story (SLC)
- Scoriocting
- from scoraiocht, scoraidheacht (a festive gathering , an assembly; a gossiping visit to a neighbour's house; evening pastime; social evening), (New York City) a phonetic word for all-night parties (SLC)
- Scrounger, scrunger
- from scrabhadh an tír (scraping, scratching the land; (Figurative) grubbing everything and everyone), a mooch, a borrower, a grubber; also, a rummager; one who asks for small items that others are about to throw away or sell (SLC)
- Scut, scutt, skut, skout
- from scódaí (a term of contempt for a person; a reckless, careless person), a general term of contempt (SLC)
- Scootch
- from scuaid (a slob; an unkempt, sloppy person), (Brooklyn Slang) a jerk (SLC)
- Shack(1)
- from teach (a house, a dwelling, a habitation, a building), a roughly built house; a shanty, a hut, a cabin of wood or mud; also, to "shack up with", to live with an unmarried lover (SLC)
- Shack(2)
- from teach (a house, a dwelling, a habitation of any kind (including the caboose on a train)), (hobo slang) a brakeman on a railroad train, occupant of the caboose or shack (SLC)
- Shack(3)
- from teacht (to approach, to arrive; coming, coming along), (Obsolete Slang) to move along, amble (SLC)
- Shag
- from seilg (to hunt, to chase; to prey on), a police chase; sexual intercourse; also, to chase or hunt something; to "shag" (chase) fly balls in baseball; to leave quickly, to speed off; (teenage slang) to harass, to prey upon (SLC)
- Shamrock
- from seamróg (a shamrock, a clover), a clover, used as a symbol for Ireland (SLC)
- Shan Van Vocht
- from SeanBhean Bhocht (a poor old woman), "Poor Old Woman", a literary name for Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries (SLC)
- shanty
- (from sean tig) old house.
- Shape, shape up
- from séap (dash, a mad rush; snap; a mad dash or furious lunge) up, the old longshoreman hiring system, which forced dock workers to dash from pier to pier to "snap up" a day's work. The hated shape up pitted worker against worker and encouraged violence, favouritism, and kickbacks (SLC)
- Shebeen
- from síbín (an illicit public house), an underground bar, an unlicensed pub or after-hours joint (SLC)
- Sheeny
- from Sianaí (a whiner, a whinger, a bawler, a wretch), an ethnic slur word for a Jew (SLC)
- Shill
- from síol (to sow, to seed, to propagate; to broadcast, to publish, to disseminate (propaganda); also, seed; (figurative) cause), a gambler's accomplice, a circus barker, a spieler, an auctioneer; a confederate or a con man, a carny pitch man; a decoy or plant, who gambles with house money (SLC)
- Shindig
- from seinnt-theach (a party-house, a house party, a musical celebration), (Irish-American) a house party, a celebration; (New York City) a party in an apartment or flat; (Figurative) a row, a racket, a commotion (SLC)
- Shindy
- from seinnte (played, sung, celebrated), a shindig, a music party, a dance; a loud celebration; also, (figurative) a racket, uproar; a fight (SLC)
- Shirt Tail
- from siortálaí (rummager, forager, ransacker), a 19th century New York City street gang (SLC)
- Simollion, simoleon
- from suim oll amháin (one big sum), one dollar, often used in plural (SLC)
- Shonicker
- from Sionnach (a fox), a racist term for a Jew (SLC)
- Shoo
- from sitheadh (act of rushing, a thrust, a lunge, rush, swoop, onrush; forcing impetuously. Violent attack or onset), an exclamation to shoo someone or something away, to force impetuously, or shoo a fly, a bird, a nuisance; to rush, to dash, to hasten away. A shoo-in is a certainty to win (as a horse in a race) (SLC)
- Shot
- from Seód (a jewel; (often figurative) a chief, a hero, a valiant man, a warrior), an important or influential person; a big "shot" (SLC)
- Skedaddle
- from sciord ar dólámh (to flee or fly quickly, rush all-out; flee vigorously (with both hands and feet)), a quick flight, a rush, a dash, a scurry; also, to flee quickly, to go away, leave, or depart hurriedly; to run away, or "clear out" (SLC)
- Sketch
- from scairt (a loud laugh; a convulsive laugh; a guffaw; a scream), (Slang) a very funny person; a card, a character, a hot sketch; someone who is a laugh or a scream (SLC)
- Ski
- from uisce (water), whiskey, cheap booze (SLC)
- Skidoo
- from sciordadh (fleeing, absconding, flying quickly, rushing, dashing, bursting forward, hurrying), to go away, to flee, to fly quickly, to leave, or to rush hurriedly (SLC)
- Skinny
- from sceitheanna, sceith (spew; give away, divulge, disseminate), Inside Information; revelation; rumour (SLC)
- Skip
- from scaip (to scatter, disperse, flee). Scaipeadh (scattering, spreading, dispersing, fleeing), to absent onself; to abscond; to depart; to leave hastily. Skip (bail bondsmen) a bail jumper; to do a "skip-trace" means to track down a bail jumper on the lam (jump) from the law (SLC)
- Slab
- from slab, slaba (mud, mire, ooze, slob), town; an early moniker for Chicago (SLC)
- Slack
- from sleabhach (to droop, incline; fade, flag, become limp; (figurative) weaken), to droop, incline; fade; flag, become limp; to weaken (SLC)
- Slacker
- from (Gaelic) slabhcar (a slouching fellow; a spiritless fellow; a spiritless person); Sleabhcán, (Ulster) sleabhach (a worthless, careless, lazy person), a slouching, lazy, spiritless person (SLC)
- Slat
- from slat (a rib (of the body), a rib, especially of a person (SLC)
- Slew, slue, sloos
- from slua (a host, a legion, an army; a crowd, a multitude, a throng, a fairy host, a flock of over 500), a very large number; a great amount (SLC). As in a slew of new products, not as in slay.
- slob
- from slaba mud, itself likely derived from Scandinavian, perhaps via English slab 'muddy place'.
- slogan
- (from sluagh-ghairm) troop-cry / war-cry.
- Slop
- from slab (mud, ooze, slop; slob). Slapach (slovenly, untidy). Slapaire (slovenly, untidy person), mud, ooze. Sloppy, slovenly, untidy (SLC)
- Slug (1)
- from slog (to swallow, gulp, drink quickly; also, a gulp, a sudden swallow, the amount of liquid taken in a single swallow; a swig), a gulp, a sudden swallow, the amount of liquid taken in a single swallow; a swig; also, to swallow, gulp, drink quickly (SLC)
- Slug (2)
- from (Irish, Gaelic) slac (to bat; to thrash, batter, drub, bruise), to strike a hard blow, to beat, to punch; to hit a baseball with a bat (SLC)
- Slugger
- from (Irish)slacaire, (Gaelic)slacair (a batter; a beater, a bruiser, a thrasher, one that beats with a mallet or bat; a mauler), a batter; a mauler, a bruiser (SLC)
- slum(1)
- (from ’s lom, a bleak, bare, exposed place) A heavily populated urban area characterised by substandard housing and squalor.
- slum (2)
- from (Irish)slam, (Gaelic)slaim (a heap, a quantity, handful; a cargo; booty, plunder), a package of bank bills. Cheap carnival prizes bought in large quantities (SLC)
- Smack
- from smag (a blow, a pounding), a blow; a blow with the palm of the hand; a kiss (SLC)
- Smacker
- from smeachaire (a kisser; a kiss), a kiss; also, a "kisser", meaning the lips or the mouth (SLC)
- smashing
- (from is maith é sin, s'maith sin) that's good
- smidgean or smidgin
- (from smidin, same as smidirín)
- smithereens
- (from smidiríní) little pieces
- Smudge, smutch
- from smúid, smuit (dirt, grime; stain; smoke; dust, soot), a dark stain, a dirty smear; thick suffocating smoke; a smudge pot; also, to soil, to stain; to smirch; to mark with dirty smears (SLC)
- Snakin'
- from snoíochán, snoíodóireacht (marking, clipping, cutting, meddling with (a deck of cards)), the deck (poker and faro slang), to mark or meddle with a deck of cards for the purposes of cheating (SLC)
- Snap (1)
- from snap, snab (a snatching, a sudden assault or seizure; a bite; a snap saying; power to grasp or hold), a sudden snatch or catch at something; a quick movement or effort. A slight or hasty meal or mouthful; a snack. A sudden closing of the jaws or teeth in biting (SLC)
- Snap (2)
- from snab (a short spell, brief time, or quick turn), (U.S Origin) a brief and sudden spell of cold, winter, sharp and sudden frost; a short spell of cold weather; a cold snap (SLC)
- Snazz, snaz
- from snas (polish, gloss, elegance, style, wealth, class), polish, gloss, elegance, style, class; also, to polish, to gloss, to make elegant; as in the phrase, "snazz up" (SLC)
- Snazzy
- from snasach (glossy, polished, neat, elegant, wealthy, swanky, classy), stylish, flashy, glossy; attractive, elegant, classy (SLC)
- Sneak
- from snighim (I creep, I crawl). Snigheach (creeping, crawling). Snagaim (I creep, crawl, or move slowly). Snag (a small creeping thing or person; a "crawler"), to move or walk in a stealthy or slinking manner; to creep or crawl furtively; to slink, or skulk; also, a sneaking, shifty, underhanded person. One who steals in a sneaking manner; a sneaking, shifty, underhanded person (SLC)
- Sneaker
- from snagaire (a sneak, a creeper, a crawler), someone who sneaks, or acts surreptitiously; an athletic shoe (SLC)
- Sneaky
- from snagach (creeping, crawling), creeping, crawling, shifty, underhanded (SLC)
- Sneeze
- from sní as (flowing out of, pouring out of), a sudden spasmodic flow of breath and mucous pouring out of the nose and mouth; also, to sneeze, to spasmodically expel breath and mucous from the nose and mouth (SLC)
- Snide
- from snoite (thin, emaciated, worn-out, wasted-away; (figurative) of poor quality), (U.S.) a thin emaciated horse or mule; anything think worn, worn-out; also, inferior, shoddy, of poor quality (SLC)
- Snigger
- from snag gáire (gasp of laughter, snort of laughter; a hiccough of a laugh), a half-suppressed laugh; a gasp of laughter; also, to laugh in a half-suppressed, stammering manner (SLC)
- Snoot
- from snua ard (a high profile, a lofty visage, a noble visage, a high and mighty appearance, a high, lofty countenance; a stuck-up face), the human nose; a snob, a snooty person; to snub, to treat with disdain. Snooty, haughty, high and mighty, conceited; snobbish; stuck-up (SLC)
- Sock
- from sac (to thrust, cram, stuff, shove, poke, clap, whack), to hit hard, to strike; to drive in or thrust into something (SLC)
- So long
- from slán (farewell; safety; security; also, healthy, safe), good-bye, farewell (SLC)
- Soogan, sugan
- from súgan (a straw mat; a pad stuffed with straw), a blanket, a bedroll, a sleeping mat carried by a hobo or itinerant worker (SLC)
- Sore
- from sár (outrage, bitterness, humiliation), annoyed, bitter, irritated; outraged, violated, angry (SLC)
- Spalpeen
- from Spailpín (a seasonal hired labourer, a migratory farm worker; a person of low degree; a rude person; a scamp; a tramp), a common workman, a farm-worker, a harvester; (used comtemptuously) a low or mean fellow; a scamp, a rascal; a lad, a boy (SLC)
- Sparring
- from spairn, sparainn (a fight, contention, contest, struggle, rivalry. also, (act of) fighting, contending, struggling, wrestling), (act of) fighting; boxing; contention, struggle (SLC)
- Spic
- from Spioc (a spark; a "firebrand", a person of irate, impulsive, hot-tempered ways), a racist term for a Spanish-speaking person (SLC)
- Spic and Span
- from spiaca's bán (bright and white; brilliant and white, shiny and beautiful), super-clean; bright and white, shiny and white (SLC)
- Spiel
- from speal, Gaelic, (mow, cut down; using cutting words; using words like a scythe; mowing down (with words)), a carnival or circus barker's speech; the ballyhoo; a sharp, persuasive talk, used to entice a listener; a hyped-up sales pitch; a speech used to advertise and attraction (SLC)
- Spieler
- from Spealair, Gaelic, (mower; one that cuts fast; a satirist; one who uses sharp, cutting, vivid, clever language; a sharp-spoken person), a carnival or circus barker; a pitchman; a person who delivers a persuasive eloquent speech (SLC)
- Spon
- from sparán (a purse, a money bag, a money pouch), money (from sponduliks) (SLC)
- Sponduliks, spondulics, spondulix, spondoolies
- from sparán tuilteach, sparáin tuillteach (overflowing purse, overflowing money bags), money, small coins; ready cash (SLC)
- spree
- As in "shopping spree", from the Irish word "spraoi", meaning "fun"
- Spunk
- from sponc, sponnc (spirit, courage, energy, passion; tinder, coltsfoot used as tinder; touchwood; a spark, a spark of life), spirit, courage, energy; figurative semen (SLC)
- Spunky
- from sponcach (spirited, energetic, courageous, lively), spirited, courageous, energetic, lively (SLC)
- Square
- from 's cóir é (it is fair play, it is honesty), honest, fair; fair play; just or equitable; fair, honest, honorable, straigtforward (SLC)
- Squeal
- from scaoil (to divulge, reveal, make known; (figurative) to snitch; to publish, to broadcast), to divulge or reveal information to the police; to inform, to snitch on someone; to act as an informer (SLC)
- Squealer
- from scaoileadh ((act of) divulging, revealing, publishing, broadcasting). Scaoilteoir (a releaser, a divulger), a snitch, an informer (SLC)
- Stiff
- from Staf (a burly person, a strong, husky, muscular person; (figurative) a worker), a worker, a common working man or woman, especially a manual labourer or factory worker, a fellow, a regular "Joe" or "Jane"; a migratory worker; a hobo, a bindle-stiff; also, a dead person (SLC)
- Stink
- from stainc (huffiness, huff, pique, spite, peeve), huffiness, pique, spite, fuss (SLC)
- Stitches, "in stitches"
- from staid aiteas (a state of joy and fun, a comical state, a condition of delight, (in) a state of hilarity), in a state of laughter, in a condition of joy, fun, hilarity, comicality (SLC)
- Stock
- from Staic (a husky, thick-set person), in phrase "stock of a man", a husky, muscular man (SLC)
- Stool pigeon
- from Steall béidéan (to spout rumours, to spill out lies and calumny). Steallaire béideánach (a gossipy, slanderous tattler, a falsely accusing informer), a shill, a decoy, a plant; a police informer; a labour spy; a professional snitch, a stoolie (SLC)
- Stud (poker)
- from stad (stop; halt; also, to stop, to stay to halt), a new form of poker, where the house controls the deal (the deal stops with the house dealer) (SLC)
- Stutter
- from stadadh ((act of) stopping, pausing, hindering, faltering, stammering), a stammer, to stammer; act or habit of stammering; stutterer; a stammerer; also, to falter, to stop and go (SLC)
- Sucker
- from Sách úr (a fresh "fat cat", a new well-fed fellow; a new prosperous person), a person easliy deceived or cheated; an easy mark; a greenhorn, a dupe (SLC)
- Sunday Punch
- from sonnda, sonnta (powerful, strong, courageous, bold (punch)), (U.S. Slang) a hard effective blow with the fists; any powerful attack; a powerful knock-out blow (of the fist) (SLC)
- Swank, swanky
- from somhaoineach (wealthy, rich, ritzy, swell; valuable, costly, precious), stylish, classy, ritzy; rich; wealthy, swell, luxurious; often appied to shops, hotels, or apartments (SLC)
- Swell
- from sóúil, sóghmháil, (Gàidhlig) sóghail (cheerful, joyful, enjoyable, happy, glad; prosperous, wealthy, (someone or something) comfortable, luxurious, grand, elegant; (figurative) a wealthy person or gentleman; (of food) satisfying, delicious, appetising, delectable, delightful, scrumptious, tasty, exquisite), enjoyable, cheerful, pleasing; excellent; grand, fine, stylish, elegant, luxurious; hospitable; delicious, sumptuous; also, an upper-class dude, a stylish sport; a wealthy, socially prominent person (SLC)
- Swoon
- from suan, (Gaelic) suain (sleep, slumber; lethargy, repose), to sleep, slumber; a fainting fit; to faint (SLC)
T
- Tally
- from táille (score, charge; reckoning; the act of counting), a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely; a bill for an amount due; reckoning; the act of counting (SLC)
- Tantrum
- from teintrighim (I flash forth; (figurative) I have a tantrum or fiery fit), a fit of bad temper or ill-humour (SLC)
- Taunt
- from tathant ((act of) urging, inciting; pressing; vexing), gibe, insult, jeer; also, to gibe, to vex, to needle, to provoke, to incite (SLC)
- Teem
- from taom, taomanna (an overflow, a torrent, a flow of water; a fit), to overflow, to overflow with water, to torrent, to pour, to gush; to deluge; to fill up, throng, abound, assemble. Teeming (act of) overflowing, pouring water; also, full, plentiful, gushing, pouring (SLC)
- Tiger
- from diaga (holy, divine, godly), a name for faro (SLC)
- Throng
- from drong (a multitude, a body of people; group; party, troop, faction, tribe, folk; a great assemblage of people), a crowd, a mass of people; also, (act of) crowding (SLC)
- tilly
- (from tuilleadh, 'an additional quantity, supplement') used in Ireland and places of Irish settlement such as Newfoundland to refer to an additional article or amount unpaid for by the purchaser, as a gift from the vendor.
- Twerp
- from Duirb, doirb (an insect, a worm, a dwarf, a small insignificant person, a diminutive insignificant creature; a small fish, a small fry), a stupid or inferior person (SLC)
- twig
- (from tuig, understand or realise).
U
- Uncle
- from anacal (mercy, quarter: (figurative) surrender), (in phrases) "say uncle", "cry uncle", to surrender; to cry for mercy or quarter (SLC)
W
- Wallop
- from bhuail leadhb (strike a blow, hit a whack), a blow; a whack; (in baseball) a hit; also, to hit, to strike (SLC)
- Wanker
- from uath-anchor (self-abuse; masturbation; (figurative) a masturbator), a masturbator; a jerk-off; a creep a loser(SLC)
- Welt
- from bhuailte (beaten, struck), to beat, to strike, to thrash (SLC)
- Whale
- from buail, bhuail (to beat, to strike, to hit), to beat, strike, hit (SLC)
- Whisht
- from éist ((imperative) listen! Hush!), be quite! Shut up! (SLC)
- whiskey
- (from uisce beatha, 'water of life').
- Whiz
- from uas, uais ((someone or something) outstanding, fine, great, excellent, top, superior, distinguished, noble, lofty), (someone or something) outstanding, superior, excellent; also, a person who is exceptionally skilful or talented; (underworld) a pickpocket (SLC)
- Why-O (gang)
- from uathadh (few, singular few; alone), a powerful Irish street gang in New York City in the 19th century (SLC)
- wick
- bad, rubbish, stupid
Y
- Yacking
- from éagcaoin (complaining, lamenting), incessant talk; persistent conversation; also, chattering, nagging (SLC)
- Yell
- from éamh oll (a great cry, a loud shout, a loud call), a loud shout; also, to shout loudly (SLC)
- Yellow
- from éalú, éalódh (secretly absconding, surreptitiously fleeing, sneaking away, slinking off, chickening out), cowardly, craven (SLC)
See also
- Hiberno-English
- List of English words of Scottish Gaelic origin - it is often difficult to distinguish the Irish or Scottish origin of some words
- Lists of English words of international origin
- ^ Blenkinsop, Stanley (Aug 30, 2004). "Who or what is the kybosh?; Questions Answered". The Times.
- ^ O'Hescain, Donal Og (Sept 1, 2004). "Who or what is the kybosh?; Questions Answered". The Times.
{{cite journal}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help)