spalpeen

American  

[spal-peen, spal-peen] / spælˈpin, ˈspæl pin /

noun

Irish English.

1. a lad or boy.

2. a rascal; scamp.

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spalpeen British  

/ ˈspælpiːn /

noun

1. an itinerant seasonal labourer

2. a rascal or layabout

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Etymology

Origin of spalpeen

1770–80; < Irish spailpín seasonal hired laborer, rude person, scamp, equivalent to spailp spell, bout, turn + -ín noun suffix

Example Sentences

What does a writer do when he has already won the Man Booker Prize and can make copacetic use of words like preterite, spalpeen, goitrous and phthistic?

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2010

Eagerly the boys had talked over the possibilities of Levi being a spy, Dennis firmly contending that there was not "spunk enough in the little spalpeen to do anything for himself."

From The Young Sharpshooter at Antietam by Tomlinson, Everett T. (Everett Titsworth)

"Arrah thin, ye spalpeen, where's Samba?" cried Barney as the dog came to him.

From Samba A Story of the Rubber Slaves of the Congo by Strang, Herbert

Besides, your honour, did not a spalpeen shoot at and hit me at Deig, without so much as bidding me the time of the morning, or by your lave, or with your lave?

From Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp Late a Lieut. in His Majesty's 87th Regiment by Shipp, John

"Faith, and I'm one of them myself," says Patsy, "and I suppose you're after takin' my place, ye spalpeen; I have a right to swat your face for you, so I have."

From Snow on the Headlight A Story of the Great Burlington Strike by Warman, Cy