pidgin
UK /ˈpɪ.d͡ʒɪn/ · US /ˈpɪ.d͡ʒən/ noun
Forms pidgins
- noun (linguistics) An amalgamation of two disparate languages, used by two populations having no common language as a lingua franca to communicate with each other, lacking formalized grammar and having a small, utilitarian vocabulary and no native speakers. The speech is slow and supported by mime and gesture.
- noun (archaic, idiomatic) A person's business, occupation, work, or trade (also spelt as pigeon).
Synonyms
Etymology
From pidgin English, from a Chinese Pidgin English pronunciation of English business during trade in the Far East. All attestations of pidgin from the first half of the nineteenth century given in the third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary mean “business; an action, occupation, or affair” (the earliest being from 1807). Other suggested derivations include:
* Hebrew פִּדְיוֹן (pidyón, “exchange; trade; redemption”)
* Chinese pronunciation of Portuguese ocupação (“occupation; business”)
* South Seas pronunciation of beach
* Portuguese baixo (“low”)
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “pidgin”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details