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.
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
The farmers were at the mercy of the gombeen traders and the agricultural middlemen.
From The National Being Some Thoughts on an Irish Polity by Russell, George William
He said: "It used to belong to the gombeen man."
From What's the Matter with Ireland? by Russell, Ruth
The reign of the gombeen man is over.
From The National Being Some Thoughts on an Irish Polity by Russell, George William
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.
