pidgin

Meanings

Plural: pidgins

Noun

an artificial language used for trade between speakers of different languages
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.
A person's business, occupation, work, or trade (also spelt as pigeon).

Origin / 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”)

Synonyms

baragouin

Scrabble Score: 10

pidgin is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
pidgin is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
pidgin is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

pidgin is a valid Words With Friends word