pikey
pikey · pikeys
A pikeA pike (type of fish).
/ˈpaɪ.ki/
Meaning
3 senses(informal)A pike (type of fish).
(Ireland, UK, ethnic, offensive, slur)An itinerant person, especially one of Romani or Irish Traveller heritage.
(Ireland, UK, derogatory, offensive)A working-class (often underclass) person with negative qualities stereotypically ascribed to itinerant people, including rowdiness, theft and poor hygiene.
Origin
From pike + -y. Possibly from obsolete pike (“depart or travel”), or possibly from turnpiFrom pike + -y.
Possibly from obsolete pike (“depart or travel”), or possibly from turnpike. The verb is derived from the stereotype that the Romani people or other travellers are thieves.
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