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octoroon

[ ok-tuh-roon ]

noun

, Older Use: Offensive.
  1. a person having one-eighth Black ancestry, with one Black great-grandparent; the offspring of a quadroon and a white person.


octoroon

/ ˌɒktəˈruːn /

noun

  1. a person having one quadroon and one White parent and therefore having one-eighth Black blood Compare quadroon
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of octoroon1

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; octo- + (quad)roon
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Word History and Origins

Origin of octoroon1

C19: octo- + -roon as in quadroon
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Compare Meanings

How does octoroon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

But once you get into octoroon territory, it holds far less mystique.

I have neglected to tell you that the mother hen is black, and struts with pompous pride above her white and octoroon subjects.

Vividly told, with a beautiful Octoroon as the central figure.

The face was that of an octoroon; her figure tall and full of dignity.

A pause and the tall figure of the octoroon crossed the white walk.

The mother of this man is an octoroon, who now resides with him at his home in the suburbs.

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