Wathing a movie the last night and one of the characters refrerred to an Italian as what sounded like ‘guinea’, which is apparently a killing offence.
Was he saying ‘guinea’, and what is the origin of the expression?
I’ve never heard it before.
While I’m sure this has been asked and answered somewhere on here, it goes back to the 18th century where it referred to Guinea, W. Africa. It meant a black person. It gradually was used in referring to people who weren’t “white” and used in a disparaging manner.
It first appears in print in 1890 in referring to Italians, but was certainly used an an epithet earlier. It was also used in referring to people of Spanish heritage.
It’s a very common expression in my Irish/Italian neighborhood in the Bronx, and probably the most common derogatory term for an Italian there. These days I wouldn’t consider using it to be a killing offense, but as with most such terms a lot depends on the tone it is said in and the relationship between the individuals. “Wop” is a bit less common and maybe a bit archaic; “Guido” is more recent.
{minor hijack} A few months ago, I was reading the care book for guinea pigs (the Amerind word for which escapes me at the moment). It said that they were brought back to the Old World from the New by the Spanish (or perhaps Portugese). It seems likely that “guinea pig” was some sort of pejorative label. Thoughts? {/slight hijack}
Earlier board discussions on the topic:
What’s up with Guineas? November, 1999
Etymology of “Guinea” January, 2000
[another slight hijack]The Quechua word for guinea pig is “cuy” (pronounced “KWEE”). Good eatin’, they claim. I believe this brings us the GP’s alias: cavy.[/ASH]
Thanks all.
Guinea is also a term for a small group of people in West Virginia of mysterious origin thought to possibly be melungeon…Also, the term Guinea is used in some areas in reference to Portugese folks…
Having had roast cui several times in restaurants in Cuzco, Peru, yes, I can attest it’s the best rodent I’ve ever eaten.