Comments on: Sheeny http://www.word-detective.com/2011/06/sheeny/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Yael http://www.word-detective.com/2011/06/sheeny/comment-page-1/#comment-44490 Yael Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:42:33 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=6008#comment-44490 Having just seen Don's comment, above, and being a native Hebrew speaker (and having studies some Hebrew and Semitic linguistics as well), I feel the need to add a correction here. The word 'Shenina' is not 'Sheeny' and does not refer to a derogatory term - it basically means 'scorn, mockery, taunt' (from the root SH-N-N, same root as 'tooth', which can relate either to the word either in the sense of something sharp and cutting, or in the sense of something that is repeated often, 'chewed over', in the same way that the verb for 'memorise by heart' comes from the same root). It works well with the rest of the verse: the meaning is that 'you' (the people spoken to in the verse) shall become a proverbial fool, something that people of the future will make fun of for generations. Any etymological connection between this verse and the term 'sheeny' seems incredibly far-fetched to me, unless you can find actual proof that this really is the source. Having just seen Don’s comment, above, and being a native Hebrew speaker (and having studies some Hebrew and Semitic linguistics as well), I feel the need to add a correction here. The word ‘Shenina’ is not ‘Sheeny’ and does not refer to a derogatory term – it basically means ‘scorn, mockery, taunt’ (from the root SH-N-N, same root as ‘tooth’, which can relate either to the word either in the sense of something sharp and cutting, or in the sense of something that is repeated often, ‘chewed over’, in the same way that the verb for ‘memorise by heart’ comes from the same root). It works well with the rest of the verse: the meaning is that ‘you’ (the people spoken to in the verse) shall become a proverbial fool, something that people of the future will make fun of for generations.
Any etymological connection between this verse and the term ‘sheeny’ seems incredibly far-fetched to me, unless you can find actual proof that this really is the source.

]]> By: Judy http://www.word-detective.com/2011/06/sheeny/comment-page-1/#comment-44422 Judy Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:33:20 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=6008#comment-44422 I believe Mary is refering to the garbage pickers who pulled their wagons through the streets of Detroit back in the 1960's and 1970's. I don't think she meant it in a derogatory way. I believe Mary is refering to the garbage pickers who pulled their wagons through the streets of Detroit back in the 1960′s and 1970′s. I don’t think she meant it in a derogatory way.

]]> By: Don Ballantyne http://www.word-detective.com/2011/06/sheeny/comment-page-1/#comment-40527 Don Ballantyne Sat, 16 Jun 2012 16:05:29 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=6008#comment-40527 Actually, the origin goes back to the fifth book of Moses: Deu 28:37 And thou shalt become an astonishment 8047, a proverb 4912, and a BYWORD 8148, among all nations 5971 whither the LORD 3068 shall lead 5090 thee. Byword is translated "sheeny". It was a prophetic verse telling the Israelites that they would be called Sheenies in the days to come, a slang for the Hebrew shen·?·nä' and certainly used in a a derogatory sense. It has always been used negatively outside Jewish culture just as the term "nigger" has been used in a negative sense toward black people. Actually, the origin goes back to the fifth book of Moses: Deu 28:37 And thou shalt become an astonishment 8047, a proverb 4912, and a BYWORD 8148, among all nations 5971 whither the LORD 3068 shall lead 5090 thee. Byword is translated “sheeny”.

It was a prophetic verse telling the Israelites that they would be called Sheenies in the days to come, a slang for the Hebrew shen·?·nä’ and certainly used in a a derogatory sense. It has always been used negatively outside Jewish culture just as the term “nigger” has been used in a negative sense toward black people.

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