darkie
[ dahr-kee ]
/ ˈdɑr ki /
noun
Words nearby darkie
Definition for darkie (2 of 2)
darky
or dark·ie
[ dahr-kee ]
/ ˈdɑr ki /
noun, plural dark·ies. Older Use: Now Offensive.
a term used to refer to a black person.
usage note for darky
The earliest uses of
darky in English were sentimental, probably affectionate in intent, although it is likely that even then, those who were addressed or referred to by the term found it patronizing. For example, the lyrics of Stephen Foster's song
My Old Kentucky Home (1853) refer with nostalgia to happy darkies. But by the early part of the 20th century, the term had became increasingly offensive and unacceptable. Current versions of the Foster lyrics refer instead to “people.”
Example sentences from the Web for darkie
His wife, my mistress, tho' fair as de lily of de valley and cheeks as pink as de rose of Sharon, is called 'Darkie.'
British Dictionary definitions for darkie
darky
darkie or darkey
/ (ˈdɑːkɪ) /
noun plural darkies or darkeys informal
an offensive word for a Black person
Australian
an offensive word for a native Australian