| 释义 |
piccaninnyn.adj. Origin: Probably a borrowing from a Portuguese-based pidgin. Etymology: Probably < a form in a Portuguese-based pidgin < Portuguese pequenino boy, child, use as noun of pequenino very small, tiny (14th cent.; earlier as †pequeninno (13th cent.)) < pequeno small (1117 as †pequena ; also as pequenho (13th cent.), pecena (14th cent.), piqueno (15th cent.): see note below) + -ino -ine suffix4. With the α and β forms compare -y suffix6. The β and γ forms probably reflect various stages of syncope of the medial and apocope of the final syllables, rather than deriving directly from Portuguese pequeno ; with the γ. forms compare Krio pikin , Cameroon Pidgin English pikin . In δ. forms probably partly after Afrikaans pikenien , pikkenien (second half of 17th cent. in Cape Dutch in form †pekenijn ). With sense A. 2 compare earlier pinkaninny n.Portuguese pequeno is ultimately of imitative origin; its closest cognate is Spanish pequeño in the same sense (1129 or earlier as †pequenno ), for which see further J. Corominas Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico (1981) at cited word. Compare also the post-classical Latin and Romance words for ‘small’ (with different suffixation) listed at petit adj. and n. and pékin n. The word is evidently one of those diffused around the Atlantic coasts through the Portuguese-based pidgins associated with trade (and especially the slave trade) in the 17th cent. A Spanish origin is much less likely; although the diminutive adjective in -ino does occur in Spanish (compare †pequenino , †pequennino (both 1200 or earlier), †pequeñino (1549 or earlier)), such attestations are very rare in comparison to the usual diminutive pequeñito (1410 or earlier); the Cuban Spanish form attested in quot. 1849 is comparatively late, and may reflect borrowing from English. In support of the Portuguese pidgin origin there is the evidence of Sranan (see quot. 1796) and the occurrence of pickaninny in West African pidgins in the 19th cent. (current West African pidgins have the form pikin which probably originated in Suriname and spread from there to Jamaica, thence to Sierra Leone (Krio), and West Africa more generally: see M. Huber Ghanaian Pidgin Eng. (1999) 85, 103). The theory that the word originated as a compound equivalent to Spanish pequeño niño little child or Portuguese pequeno negro (compare Sranan pikien-ningre ‘negerkinderen, kreolen’ given by H. C. Focke, Neger-Engelsch Woordenboek (1855)) is unlikely.1796 J. G. Stedman Narr. Exped. Surinam II. xxvi. 258 Small, peekeen.—Very small, peekeeneenee.1849 E. Pichardo Diccion. Provinc. Voces Cubanas (ed. 2) Piquinini..una persona ó cosa pequeña. colloquial. Now usually offensive. A. n. 1. A black child. (Now considered offensive when used by a white person of a black child.) the world > people > person > child > [noun] > expressing origin or attachment to place, time, etc. the world > people > ethnicities > division of mankind by physical characteristics > black person > [noun] > child α. 1653 in (1905) 4th Ser. 10 129/1 Some women [in Barbados], whose pickaninnies are three yeares old, will, as they worke at weeding..suffer the hee Pickaninnie, to sit astride upon their backs. 1657 R. Ligon 48 When the child is borne, (which she calls her Pickaninnie) she [sc. a neighbour] helps to make a little fire nere her feet... In a fortnight, this woman is at worke with her Pickaninny at her back. 1681 Will of J. Vaughan of Antigua in 2nd Ser. IV. 255 To my sister Mrs. Hannah Bell, four negroes and one Pickoniny [printed Pickoning] boy. 1707 H. Sloane I. p. lii Their children call'd Piganinnies or rather Pequenos Ninnos, go naked till they are fit to be put to clean paths, bring firewood [etc.]. 1828 93 The pickeniny gang consisted of the children who were taken to the field. 1847 30 216 It might be very pleasant to be surrounded by half-a-dozen negro waiting-women, with their picaninnies. 1867 L. M. Child ii. 16 The negroes at their work, and their black picaninnies rolling about on the ground. 1971 R. Fitzgerald 80 Wide-eyed pickaninnies Curl their toes in the sweet air. 1994 A. Aubert 78 I just saw a alligator goin' down the creek with a lil pickaninny in his mouth. α. 1817 4 Jan. 2/3 Governor,—that will make good Settler—that's my Pickaninny! 1817 J. L. Nicholas II. 171 This fellow [sc. a native servant]..met me..telling me that Mrs. King had got a pickeeninnee, (a child,) he began to describe her groans..while..under the pains of labour. 1847 F. W. L. Leichhardt xv. 520 Bilge introduced several old warriors..adding always the number of piccaninies, that each of them had. 1889 R. C. Praed 16 Three or four half-naked gins, with their picaninnies slung on their tattooed backs. 1925 J. Mander (1971) 85 He loved to carry her about in a shawl on his back as the Maoris did their picaninnies. 1963 19 Nov. 6/4 The use of such words as ‘boy’, ‘lubra’ and..‘piccaninny’ to describe aborigines has been banned to Northern Territory welfare officers. 1964 R. H. Morrieson (1981) 170 Pakeha visitors..were few and far between and news of the occupancy of the guest chamber soon circulated among the piccaninnies. 1983 K. W. Manning 188 As a lad..he was referred to by the Islanders as ‘white fella piccaninny b'long Boss’. the world > people > ethnicities > division of mankind by physical characteristics > black person > [noun] > child > boy α. 1855 in J. W. Colenso Add. 3 What will the poor little piccaninnies do, Boy? 1893 14 Dec. Even the pickaninnies and pygmies of the Congo valley are..entitled to protection from drink. 1986 F. Karodia 76 ‘How many pickaninnies you got?’ the Afrikaner fired at the man. ‘Five, Baas.’ the world > people > person > child > [noun] 1774 45 I'd freely give a golden guinea If I could have a pickaninny, By any means, before we part, Like thee in face, but not in heart. 1817 W. Scott 29 Apr. (1932) IV. 438 The little pickaninny has my kindest wishes. 1859 W. M. Thackeray lxviii A little box at Richmond or Kew, and a half-score of little picaninnies. 1899 15 Dec. 12/1 She's Britannia's Picaninny, If she isn't very big! She's a Daughter of the Empire,..Natal! 1917 S. T. Plaatje 273 The naughty white piccaninnies who always insult inoffensive black passers-by. 1954 J. A. Weingarten Pickaninny, used humorously for any child. 1970 6 48 You yourself were my little pikinini. the world > animals > family unit > [noun] > offspring or young 1824 14 Sept. Young—shot her down: and he thought she had something in her belly, so he took his knife and cut her open, and a little pickerninny tumbled out. 1850 22 June 3/2 About twenty kangaroos of all sizes, from the old man down to the piccaninny. 1853 G. B. Earp 145 [The natives] are very fond of horses... They will buy nothing but mares, having a great desire to have ‘pickaninny’ horses of their own. 1965 R. Ottley 132 I show you kangaroo. Big fella one, an' mary gottim piccanin. Piccanin along belly. B. adj.the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adjective] 1707 H. Sloane I. p. lii They have..Christmas Holidays, Easter call'd little or Piganinny, Christmas, and some other great Feasts. 1791 II. 39 Dey be only a piccaninny cork-screw, and a piccaninny knife; one cost sixpence, and tudda a shilling. 1840 R. H. Dana xix. 181 Me pikininni—small—so high—no more! 1876 J. R. Green 9 Oct. (1901) 439 A series which begins in the thirteenth century is a very young and pickaninny series. a1912 ‘T. Collins’ (1948) 107 Blackfellers mostly goes in for a piccaninny fire—jist three sticks, with the ends kep' together. 1951 E. Hill 322 Somewhere there he had heard of a native well or soak—picaninny water, he showed them with his hand. 1961 T. V. Bulpin 233 ‘How old are you?’ ‘Nineteen.’ ‘Oh, you are a piccanin white man.’ 1971 J. A. Wright 211 Aren't they cute little pickaninny fawns? Compounds 1707 [see sense B.]. 1834 R. R. Madden Let. 10 Sept. in (1835) II. 153 To..spend piccanini Christmas (Easter) dancing. the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > dawn > [noun] 1936 M. Franklin xvi. 153 At piccaninny dawn, the billy with the lid off was found rolling on the floor. 1983 G. Lord xv. 99 Piccaninny dawn was streaking the eastern sky. 1999 (Nexis) 25 May 12 As he drove down Sandgate Road at piccaninny dawn, he glanced in his rear-view mirror. the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > dawn > [noun] c1860 131 He..refused, on the plea that it was ‘picaninny daylight’—i.e., that the day was short, and we had no time to lose. 1903 R. Bedford lxi By pickaninny daylight the mounted men were in motion. 2003 (Nexis) 8 Sept. 19 The first car into Alice Springs arrived before ‘piccaninny daylight’, while the town was still asleep. 1966 I. Vaughan 151 The old man went out late at night to ‘pic-a-ninny kaiah’, natives polite word for outdoor lavatory—no sewerage here in wilds. 1994 8 Jan. (Leisure) 3 The WC, latrine, lavatory, convenience, [etc.]..and even our own ‘kleinhuisie’ and PK (picaninny khaya)—all are acceptable terms for the same facility. 1846 23 Nov. 2/5 You no sleep to-night—plenty thousand Murray black fellow come piccaninni sun (daylight). 1856 W. W. Dobie 91 Sometimes ‘picaninny sun’ came long before Syntax had completed his self-allotted daily task. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  n.adj.1653 |
