pickaninny
pickaninny · pickaninnies
A black childA black child.
/ˈpɪkənɪni/
Meaning
1 senses(colloquial, ethnic, offensive, slur)A black child.
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a Black child
Origin
Probably from a Portuguese pidgin, from Portuguese pequenino (“boy, child”), noun use of pProbably from a Portuguese pidgin, from Portuguese pequenino (“boy, child”), noun use of pequenino (“tiny”), from pequeno (“small”). In South African uses probably partly after Afrikaans pikenien.
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Forms
plural: pickaninniesSynonyms
2 synonymsClose in meaning
- (ethnic slur) offensive term for a Black child:piccaninnypicaninny