Meaning of spalpeen | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A poor migratory farm worker in Ireland, often viewed as a rascal or mischievous and cunning person.
   Ireland, ethnic, slur
2. A good-for-nothing person.
   Ireland, endearing, sometimes

Examples

“"And they stood you before the magistrates, like⟳ a spalpeen or a tinker." / "Sure the French wouldn't bring⟳ with them barrels of coppers for the spalpeens of Connaught. It is murder⟳ and bloodshed they would bring⟳."”

“The men were mainly evicted farmers from Connaught and West Cork, beggared spalpeens from Carlow and Waterford; a cooper, some farriers, a horse-knacker from Kerry; a couple of Galway fishermen who had managed to sell⟳ their nets.”

“[A] fortunate accident […] happened to me when I was a very little boy. A good-hearted old Irish nurse (whom I shall not forget⟳ in my will) took me up one day by the heels, when I was making more noise than was necessary, and, swinging me round two or three times, d——d my eyes for "a skreeking little spalpeen," and then knocked my head into a cocked hat against the bed-post. This, I say⟳, decided my fate, and made my fortune.”

CEFR level