Gombeen

Pronunciation

• IPA: /É¡É’mˈbiːn/

Origin

From Irish gaimbín ("monetary interest").

Full definition of gombeen

Noun

1. (archaic) Usury.
2. (historical, Ireland) A moneylender during the Great Famine.
• 2002, Joseph O'Connor, Star of the Sea, Vintage 2003, p. xix:It was said by some that he had been a moneylender back in Ireland; a ‘gombeen’ in their slang: a hated figure.
3. (Ireland, slang) A mean, underhanded, corrupt person. Usually applied to politicians.

Adjective

adjective

1. (Ireland) Corrupt, underhanded.They were talking gombeen politics.