Jackeen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Look up jackeen in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Jackeen is a mildly pejorative term for someone from Dublin, Ireland. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as "A contemptuous designation for a self-assertive worthless fellow," citing the earliest documented use from the year 1840.[1]

Derivation and meaning

The term is derived from a nickname for John[citation needed] (i.e. Jack) from the Union Jack (As Dubliners were considered the most English of all the Irish) combined with the Irish diminutive suffix "-een" (meaning little) [1] (-ín in Irish) found in many Irish female names such as Roisín ("little Rose") and Maureen (Mairín, "little Mary"). Today, Jackeen is often used to describe Dublin GAA players and supporters.[2][3] The term has also been shortened to "Jack" or the plural "Jacks" by Dublin fans as a way to refer to themselves.[citation needed][4][5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Simpson, John; Weiner, Edmund (1989). "Oxford English Dictionary, second edition". Oxford: Clarendon Press. "Irish dim. of JACK n.: A contemptuous designation for a self-assertive worthless fellow." 
  2. ↑ "The Jacks are back". Retrieved 2007-01-25. 
  3. ↑ "Reeling in the years". Retrieved 2007-01-25. 
  4. ↑ Worthwhile Stereotypes, Templates and Routines?
  5. ↑ Dublin Slang Dictionary and Phrase-book
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.