Gombeenism

/ɡɑːmˈbiːnɪzəm/ noun

Definition

The system or practice of gombeen lending; a system of small-scale exploitative moneylending and petty usury.

Etymology

From gombeen + '-ism' suffix (denoting a system or practice); emerged in 19th-century Irish economic and social discourse to describe predatory lending systems.

Kelly Says

Gombeenism became such a defining feature of Irish rural poverty that it spawned an entire literary and sociological vocabulary—Irish writers used it as a symbol of colonial economic oppression.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.