Picaninny

n. A young black person. slightly racist

Stems from Irish folklore of small, black faries that lived in the hills.

There were a bunch of picaninnies up at the park.

by James Dannelly May 7, 2003

Picaninny

A little black girl, who sports tight pig tails in every direction, clasped by a rainbow assortment of plastic barrettes. Can be used as a noun or an adjective.

Shooo gir, move yo picaninny head! I'm tryna watch Oprah!

by DuckPlease July 12, 2010

Pineapple Picaninny

Someone who is a Pacific Islander. Pineapple is in reference to them being from one of the many Pacific Islands. Picaninny is in reference to them being dark-skinned.

That Pineapple Picaninny is nothing more than an ape wearing clothes.

by bushnest February 22, 2022

Honkey Whispering Pickaninny

If you know what a honkey whisperer is and you know what a Pickaninny is? This has "what you talkin bout Willis" all over it!

A Honkey Whispering Pickaninny is a small version of a a Honkey Whisperer!

Emmanuelle Louis was the best Honkey Whispering Pickaninny that ever graced a camera!

by Sean Day Lou Swahili Swag September 3, 2016

pickaninny

A small black child, too young to be a productive picker in the cotton field.

"Look at that little pickaninny just standing there eating dirt".

by SteveOla April 10, 2008

pickaninnies

The picaninny (It is also spelled pickaninny and piccaninny) was the dominant racial caricature of Black children for most of this country's history. They were "child coons," miniature versions of Stepin Fetchit. Picaninnies had bulging eyes, unkempt hair, red lips, and wide mouths into which they stuffed huge slices of watermelon. They were themselves tasty morsels for alligators. They were routinely shown on postcards, posters, and other ephemera being chased or eaten. Picaninnies were portrayed as nameless, shiftless natural buffoons running from alligators and toward fried chicken.

Source: Dr. David Pilgrim, Professor of Sociology
Ferris State University

She was one of the blackest of her race; and her round, shining eyes, glittering as glass beads, moved with quick and restless glances over everything in the room. Her mouth half open with astonishment at the wonders of the new Mas'r's parlor, displayed a white and brilliant set of teeth. Her woolly hair was braided in sundry little tails, which stuck out in every direction. The expression of her face was an odd mixture of shrewdness and cunning, over which was oddly drawn, like a veil, an expression of the most doleful gravity and solemnity. She was dressed in a single filthy, ragged garment, made of bagging; and stood with her hands demurely folded in front of her. Altogether, there was something odd and goblin-like about her appearance -- something as Miss Ophelia afterwards said, "so heathenish..."

by Tom Winston April 4, 2005

pickaninny

an offensive, derogatory term for black children

by Anonymous April 29, 2003