English Explanatory Dictionary

pickaninny

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A black child.
adj
  1. Little, small.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɪkənɪni/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-RajanD100-pickaninny.wav

Word forms

pickaninny pickaninnies piccaninny picaninny picinniny pikinini pickaninnie pickininnie pickininny piccanin pickny

Etymology

Probably 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.

Derived words

pickaninny Christmas pickney
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