| 释义 |
spalpeen Irish.|spælˈpiːn|
[a. Ir. spailpín, f. spailp- of uncertain origin and meaning + -ín dim. suffix. The etym. given in quot. 1780 is fanciful.]
1. A common workman or labourer; a farm-worker or harvester.
1780A. Young Tour Irel. 57 Connaught labourers; they are called spalpeens: spal, in Irish, is a scythe, and peen a penny; that is, a mower for a penny a day. Ibid. 333 Spalpeens going from hence decline much. 1807Hoare Tour in Ireland 318, I have heard these boys [i.e. peasant's sons] called Spalpeens. 1818Lady Morgan Fl. Macarthy (1819) II. 3 Surrounded by petitioning, whining, wretched cotters, spalpeans, road makers, and labourers. 1837Boston Advert. 17 Jan. 4/4 Peter Murphy, late spalpeen in Kerry.
2. Used contemptuously: A low or mean fellow; a scamp, a rascal.
1815M. Edgeworth Love & Law i. iv, The spalpeen! turned into a buckeen, that would be a squireen,—but can't. 1856Lever Martins of Cro' M. xv, The dirty, mean spalpeens. 1857Kingsley Two Y. Ago xix, I've brought away the poor spalpeen of a priest.
3. A youngster, a boy.
1891B. Stoker Snake's Pass v, I remimber it..a lot higher up the mountain whin I was a spalpeen. 1901J. Barlow Land Shamrock 206 If her brother Patrick was a couple of year or so oulder,..but he's only a spalpeen yet. |