creole

plural creoles

1. human sciencesA language formed from two or more languages which has developed from a pidgin to become a first language.

   From the point of view of syntactic analysis, I have shown how transformational theory may be applied to the syntax of a Creole language.

   1966, Beryl Loftman Bailey, Jamaican Creole Syntax, page 144

   2 more examples

   There are three orders of people: those who were alive when the French possessed the island: they understand the good French; those who were born in the heat of the Revolution, and who have arrived at maturity without instruction, these speak only Creole[…]

   1818, The Methodist Magazine, page 317

   To communicate, they evolve a creole called Belter, which becomes the lingua franca for what is essentially the solar system’s new proletariat. […] There is a simple, regular grammar that is typical of creoles.

   2019 December 22, Annalee Newitz and Cyrus Farivar, “Nick Farmer knows dozens of languages, so he invented one for The Expanse”, in Ars Technica

2. historicalAlternative letter-case form of Creole (“person born in a colony”).

   Some of the great merchants in the Indies were creoles, but the majority were peninsulares. These latter acted as effective intermediaries between Spain and the colonies.

   1992, Edwin Williamson, The Penguin history of Latin America, London; New York: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 131

3. jewelryA style of hoop earrings with a hoop that has an inconsistent thickness and/or is elongated in shape.

plural Creoles

1. A descendant of European settlers who is born in a colonized country.First known use 17th c.

   Within the Spanish society, a great difference evolved between the Insular Spaniards, sent over for different periods of time from Spain, to serve as officials, etc., and the "native" Spaniards, the Creoles.

   1969, Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt, The Political Systems of Empires, page 76

2. Anyone with mixed ancestry born in a country colonized by Europeans, now especially one who speaks a creole language.First known use 18th c.
3. Someone of African descent who is born in the Caribbean or Americas (originally as opposed to an African immigrant).First known use 18th c.
4. A native-born of Francophone descent in the Louisiana territory of any race, as opposed to Anglo-American settlers.

comparative more Creole · superlative most Creole

1. Pertaining to or characteristic of someone who is a Creole.First known use 18th c.
2. That is a Creole; especially, born in a colonized country different from that of his or her ancestors.First known use 18th c.
3. Designating a creolized language.First known use 18th c.
4. cookingPrepared according to a cooking style developed in a Creole area, now especially that of Louisiana, characterised by a mixture of European and African influences.First known use 19th c.

1. Any specific creole language, especially that of Haiti.First known use 18th c.

   She grew up speaking Creole.

   2 more examples

   Along with French, Creole is one of Haiti's official languages.

   His English is still in its beginning stages, like my Creole, but he was able to translate some Creole songs that he's written into English—not the best English, but English nonetheless.

   2002, Matt Cyr, Something to Teach Me: Journal of an American in the Mountains of Haiti, Educa Vision, Inc., →ISBN, page 25