Definition of shebeen
chiefly Ireland and South Africa
: an unlicensed or illegally operated drinking establishment
- Trending Now: More Trending:
- embolization oleaginous pansexual symbiote charlatan
- ALL
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Recent Examples of shebeen from the Web
-
While huddled over a fire in an oil barrel in the center of the shebeen’s function room, The Committee members knew that the winner probably would come from the news that The Girl With The Faraway Eyes was, well, eying a comeback.
-
The shebeen queens were some of the most powerful people in the community.
-
Rhythms of Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana; lyrics of township romances, girls sashaying to get water, rowdy shebeens.
-
It was outlawed by the authorities, so the brew itself--and the culture of drinking it in shebeens [illicit bars or clubs], while dancing and singing--became a form of resistance.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shebeen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of shebeen
Irish síbín illicit whiskey, shebeen
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: circa 1787
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearLearn More about shebeen
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up shebeen? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
