gombeen

plural gombeens

1. archaiccountableuncountableUsury.
2. IrelandcountablehistoricaluncountableA moneylender during the Great Famine.

   It was said by some that he had been a moneylender back in Ireland; a ‘gombeen’ in their slang: a hated figure.

   2002, Joseph O'Connor, Star of the Sea, Vintage, published 2003, page xix

3. IrelandcountableslanguncountableA mean, underhanded, corrupt person. Usually applied to politicians.

   1 more example

   "Could you give me two ounces of butter?" "Well, I don't know. We sell butter usually by the weight half pound or a pound." "Do you sell quarter pounds?" "Well, I think so." "Could you give me half a quarter pound?" "Yes." "Half a quarter pound then." Sebastian watching him. O you sly gombeen man. The backs of these stores, most sordid places in the world. You stupid, intolerable oaf.

   1955, J P Donleavy, The Ginger Man, France, published 1955 (France), page 108

1. IrelandCorrupt, underhanded.

   They were talking gombeen politics.