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spalpeen

[spal-peen, spal-peen]

noun

Irish English.
  1. a lad or boy.

  2. a rascal; scamp.



spalpeen

/ ˈspælpiːn /

noun

  1. an itinerant seasonal labourer

  2. a rascal or layabout

“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 spalpeen1

1770–80; < Irish spailpín seasonal hired laborer, rude person, scamp, equivalent to spailp spell, bout, turn + -ín noun suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of spalpeen1

C18: from Irish Gaelic spailpín itinerant labourer
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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.

Children who grew up on the streets of New York City years ago had infinite fun just running wild in the streets and alleys with only a spalpeen to play with.

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This Manus, the dirty spalpeen, there was no ho with him; he thought to ride rough-shod over his betters through the whole country, though he was not one of the real stock of the O'Rourkes.

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Eagerly the boys had talked over the possibilities of Levi being a spy, Dennis firmly contending that there was not "spunk enough in the little spalpeen to do anything for himself."

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"There comes that little spalpeen ag'in!" cried Dennis suddenly, as he looked back and saw that Levi was following discreetly in the distance.

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If I had that little spalpeen, Levi, here, I'd get some satisfaction, anyway!

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