gombeen

[ gom-been ]

/ gɒmˈbin /

usury.

Origin of gombeen

1860–65; < Irish gaimbín interest, especially exorbitant interest, literally, bit, small piece, diminutive of gamba lump, hunk

golp, golschmann, goltz, gom, gombe, gombeen, gombeen-man, gombeenism, gomberg, gombo, gombroon

At Burtonport we found the “Gombeen man,” of Dungloe, represented by a very large “store.”

Ireland Under Coercion (2nd ed.) (1 of 2) (1888) |William Henry Hurlbert
This poor innocent was charging just 60 per cent., but his terms were lavishly liberal as compared with those of the gombeen man.

Disturbed Ireland |Bernard H. Becker
There are no “Gombeen men” here, he says, and no usurious shopkeepers.

Ireland Under Coercion (2nd ed.) (2 of 2) (1888) |William Henry Hurlbert
They vary in wealth and position from the humblest 'gombeen man' to the millionaire banker.

Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official |William Sleeman

Gombeen man; a usurer who lends money to small farmers and others of like means, at ruinous interest.

English As We Speak It in Ireland |P. W. Joyce