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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.

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

Oliver
from oll ubh óir (a great golden egg, figuratively, the moon), the moon (SLC)


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

  1. ^ Blenkinsop, Stanley (Aug 30, 2004). "Who or what is the kybosh?; Questions Answered". The Times.
  2. ^ 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)
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