shebeen

[ shuh-been ]

noun

, Scot., Irish English, South African.

1. a tavern or house where liquor is sold illegally.

shebeen

/ ʃɪˈbiːn /

noun

1. a place where alcoholic drink is sold illegally
2. (in Ireland) alcohol, esp home-distilled whiskey, sold without a licence
3. (in South Africa) a place where Black African men engage in social drinking
4. (in the US and Ireland) weak beer

Word History and Origins

Origin of shebeen¹

1780–90; < Irish síbín illicit whiskey, place where such whiskey is sold (ellipsis from teach síbín shebeen house), originally, a unit of measure < English chopin

Word History and Origins

Origin of shebeen¹

C18: from Irish Gaelic síbín beer of poor quality

Example Sentences

Shebeen or sheebeen; an unlicensed public-house or alehouse where spirits are sold on the sly.

From Project Gutenberg

On reaching St. John's he would go to a shebeen that he knew, in a narrow and secluded back street, and there rent a room.

From Project Gutenberg

Schele de Vere derives it from the French cabane, but it seems rather more likely that it is from the Irish shebeen.

From Project Gutenberg

In this lane at the time to which we allude the widow Mulready kept the shebeen shop, of which mention has before been made.

From Project Gutenberg

We pulled up near a picturesque little shebeen, to water the horses and get our Highland wraps well about us.

From Project Gutenberg