Irish pennant
noun Nautical Slang: Sometimes Offensive.
an unwhipped rope end.
any strand or rope end left hanging untidily.
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Origin of Irish pennant
First recorded in 1880–85
Usage note
Though no longer used as a deliberate slur, this term is sometimes perceived as insulting to or by the Irish. It originated in the Royal Navy in the 1800s, during the time of sailing ships.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019