shebeen

Where does the word "shebeen" come from? It comes from Irish síbín, and was adopted directly into English (1780s).

Shebeen’s story begins in Irish: síbín meant “illicit drinking house.” Origin disputed, perhaps from séibe 'mug, measure'; these unlicensed drinking dens often sold untaxed poitín. It reached English by 1780s as shebeen. Carried abroad by Irish emigrants; in South Africa, township shebeens such as those of Soweto served Black drinkers, who were barred from buying 'white' liquor legally until the law changed in 1961. Today, shebeen means an unlicensed bar, especially in Ireland, Scotland or South Africa.

1. Stage 1 · Irish · 1700s síbín "illicit drinking house", origin disputed, perhaps from séibe 'mug, measure'; these unlicensed drinking dens often sold untaxed poitín.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1780s shebeen "unlicensed bar", carried abroad by Irish emigrants; in South Africa, township shebeens such as those of Soweto served Black drinkers, who were barred from buying 'white' liquor legally until the law changed in 1961.