gombeen-man

[ gom-been-man ]

noun

, Irish English.

, plural gom·been-men.

1. a usurer or moneylender.

gombeen-man

/ ˈɡɒmbiːnˌmæn /

noun

1. a shopkeeper who practises usury

Word History and Origins

Origin of gombeen-man¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

This poor innocent was charging just 60 per cent., but his terms were lavishly liberal as compared with those of the gombeen man.

From Project Gutenberg

At Burtonport we found the “Gombeen man,” of Dungloe, represented by a very large “store.”

From Project Gutenberg

They vary in wealth and position from the humblest 'gombeen man' to the millionaire banker.

From Project Gutenberg