chabin

Antillean Creole

Etymology

From French chabine.

Noun

chabin

1. female equivalent of chaben

Usage notes

In Caribbean French Kwéyòl (spoken in e.g. Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Lucia and Dominica) this term is used without a gendered article, and to refer to women of African descent with pale skin (and more specifically, those with red, gold, blonde or light-brown hair). The masculine form of the word is "chaben", and the plural forms are "chabins" and "chabens". In the Kwéyòl-speaking Caribbean islands, the term is sometimes used as an adjective when included in English sentences e.g. "the chabin girl".

French

Alternative forms

• shabin

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

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Noun

chabin m (plural chabins, feminine chabine)

1. sheep-goat hybrid, "geep"
2. (Antilles, slang) a person of African descent with pale skin

References

• Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002) “chabin”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, volume 2: C Q K, page 309