Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Used as a disparaging term for a young black child.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun See
piccaninny .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun U.S. & West Indies A small child; especially, a negro or mulatto infant. Now (2001) used primarily in the latter sense, and in that sense often considered derogatory.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun slang, offensive, derogatory a
black child
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun (ethnic slur) offensive term for a Black child
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Don't forget about Evan Mecham, Arizona's former governor who made the "pickaninny" statement and the cancellation of the state's Martin Luther King, Jr.Day. so what?
Palin on 2012: 'If it's right, then we will pursue that' 2010
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In 1932 Langston Hughes criticized Little Black Sambo as a typical "pickaninny" storybook which was hurtful to black children, and gradually the book disappeared from lists of recommended stories for children.
Hancock (2008) Steven Barnes 2008
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In connection with the thread earlier on the new Mexican stamps depicting a "pickaninny" cartoon character, I noticed three related items in Mexconnect today.
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"Has you all seen anything of a low down black pickaninny which is los '?"
What Two Children Did Charlotte E. Chittenden
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Further thoughts on PC language -- I can have my character substitute "pickaninny" for "nigger" in that first exchange, dragging in the added baggage of dismissing the object as a child -- there's a jealousy component as well.
Ah, for a predictable life jhetley 2006
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"What name you fella kanaka all the same pickaninny?"
YAH! YAH! YAH! 2010
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When I was a little pickaninny, I knew more about fish and the ways of fish than you know now.
YAH! YAH! YAH! 2010
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Him black Mary, him pickaninny, walk about long way big bit.
Chapter 23 2010
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He had some pickaninny heads, in poor condition, that he would let go for ten bob.
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One fella Adamu he stop along outside pickaninny house.
Chapter 22 2010
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