gombeen
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of gombeen
1860–65; < Irish gaimbín interest, especially exorbitant interest, literally, bit, small piece, diminutive of gamba lump, hunk
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We passed Stephen Casey and the gombeen man cornering the disputed calves in the sympathetic accord that such an operation demands.
From In Mr. Knox's Country by Ross, Martin
The instalment was a very small one, but it was at once discounted by the gombeen man, whose rate of interest enabled him to run extraordinary risks.
From Disturbed Ireland Being the Letters Written During the Winter of 1880-81. by Becker, Bernard H.
This poor innocent was charging just 60 per cent., but his terms were lavishly liberal as compared with those of the gombeen man.
From Disturbed Ireland Being the Letters Written During the Winter of 1880-81. by Becker, Bernard H.
His father had confided to him that they were in great debt to the gombeen man.
From What's the Matter with Ireland? by Russell, Ruth
When Paddy became the political rival of the gombeen man for the county council, there was a joint debate.
From What's the Matter with Ireland? by Russell, Ruth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
