"Guinea" is an American slang term for an Italian.
At the time of massive Italian immigration to the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centurys, most Americans lived on farms, and used a large fowl called a Guinea to keep the garden and lawns free of bugs and ticks, which they ate in great numbers.
A flock of Guineas "spoke" in a rapid, excited manner, and the newly arrived Italian immigrants spoke in a fast emotional manner that reminded the Americans of the sound that a Guinea fowl made, so the newcomers were soon dubbed "Guineas" by the local people.
At the time of massive Italian immigration to the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centurys, most Americans lived on farms, and used a large fowl called a Guinea to keep the garden and lawns free of bugs and ticks, which they ate in great numbers.
A flock of Guineas "spoke" in a rapid, excited manner, and the newly arrived Italian immigrants spoke in a fast emotional manner that reminded the Americans of the sound that a Guinea fowl made, so the newcomers were soon dubbed "Guineas" by the local people.
(Son to Father) "Hey Pa, them I-talians sure do talk funny!"
(Father to Son) "That's rightly so boy, they strut around and babble like a gaggle of Guineas!"
(Father to Son) "That's rightly so boy, they strut around and babble like a gaggle of Guineas!"
by Sheepster411 March 22, 2009
To be sure, guinea is a pejorative, racist term for a person of Italian descent. I'm just surprised no one has hit upon my understanding of the word's origin, and therefore, correct shade of meaning. I don't know for certain, but I'd be willing to bet on the guinea fowl, which is:
- a traditional favorite of Italian chefs
- therefore, like its chicken cousins, often raised at the chef's home in a backyard pen, even as late as the mid 20th century
- a visually striking animal, described by my wife the first time she ever saw them as "Alice in Wonderland birds."
- prone to a God-awful racket when so much as gazed at crossly
- capable of frightening young children and the elderly
- a traditional favorite of Italian chefs
- therefore, like its chicken cousins, often raised at the chef's home in a backyard pen, even as late as the mid 20th century
- a visually striking animal, described by my wife the first time she ever saw them as "Alice in Wonderland birds."
- prone to a God-awful racket when so much as gazed at crossly
- capable of frightening young children and the elderly
Little Timmy from down the street has been missing for over two weeks now. Local police suspect he was taken by a roving rogue band of aggressive guinea fowl with a taste for human flesh. The police found his little book sack riddled with bloody peck marks.
by Dave Barnes2 March 01, 2008
The Italian equivalent of calling a black guy a porch monkey I,E one of the most infuriating and insulting thing one could call an Italian
You swamp guineas are all the same, go wash the grease from your hair( after saying this area your in will be swarming with this "guinea"'s cultural brothers who will all proceed to kick your ignorant ass)!
by bob boberton April 18, 2015
by EarthToDavid July 11, 2008
A black is a nigger and an italian is a guinea. Its like calling an italian a nigger. Guineas are percieved to be 'inferior' to real italians because they are mostly sicilians. Thats the underbelly of the italian culture.
by Jkarta March 07, 2008
a racial slur used on sicilian a race with curly hair ,facial features that closely resembale blacks , and can grow an afro on thiere chins ( the chin fro ), this racial slur is like callin a sicilian a nigger , its origan comes from the fact sicilians mined the gold out of new guinea.
1 you damn guinea you ruined the italian blood line .2 you guineas are the lowest form of life , 3 if sicilians were white we'd be called honkeys not guineas 4 you damn sicilians your a guinea , a wop and cause you got black in you your a nigger . damn guinea ruines the italian name
by ADAM NICOLIA May 07, 2008
an offensive term for Italians used by neo-nazis like Lars. Italians are not hairy and they are a cultured people. It is assholes like Lars that are the pigs. If anyone is a disgrace to whites, it's rednecks like him. Besides, Italians are not white, they are their own race. Most proud Italians that don't bow down to dicks like Lars consider themselves non-whites and are proud to not be a part of that lame race.
People that call Italians hairy guineas have obviously never seen a real Italian. We're incredibly sexy.
by I am here April 19, 2005