English
gombeen
Gombeen comes from Irish gaimbín ‘monetary interest’, and goes back to gamba ‘lump, hunk, dollop’.
- Irishc. 1200–presentgamba‘lump, hunk, dollop’
- Irish, derivedc. 1200–presentgaimbín‘monetary interest’
- Englishearliest quotation 1955gombeen
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Irishc. 1200–presentgamba‘lump, hunk, dollop’
- Irish, derivedc. 1200–presentgaimbín‘monetary interest’
- Englishearliest quotation 1955gombeen
Earliest quotation: 1955, J P Donleavy, The Ginger Man: “Could you give me two ounces of butter?" "Well,…”
Every English word from Irish gamba
Today it means
noun Usury.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Irish gamba / gombeen