Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Creole
Cre′ole
(kr?′?l)
, Noun.
[F.
cr[GREEK]ole
, Sp. criollo
, from an American negro word, perh. a corruption of a Sp. criadillo
, dim. of criado
servant, formerly also, child, fr. L. creatus
, p. p. of creare
to create. Cf. Create
.] One born of European parents in the American colonies of France or Spain or in the States which were once such colonies, esp. a person of French or Spanish descent, who is a native inhabitant of Louisiana, or one of the States adjoining, bordering on the Gulf of of Mexico.
☞ “The term creole negro is employed in the English West Indies to distinguish the negroes born there from the Africans imported during the time of the slave trade. The application of this term to the colored people has led to an idea common in some parts of the United States, though wholly unfounded, that it implies an admixture greater or less of African blood.”
R. Hildreth.
☞ “The title [Creole] did not first belong to the descendants of Spanish, but of French, settlers, But such a meaning implied a certain excellence of origin, and so came early to include any native of French or Spanish descent by either parent, whose nonalliance with the slave race entitled him to social rank. Later, the term was adopted by, not conceded to, the natives of mixed blood, and is still so used among themselves. . . . Besides French and Spanish, there are even, for convenience of speech, ’colored' Creoles; but there are no Italian, or Sicilian, nor any English, Scotch, Irish, or 'Yankee' Creoles, unless of parentage married into, and themselves thoroughly proselyted in, Creole society.”
G. W. Cable.
Cre′ole
(kr?′?l)
, Adj.
Of or pertaining to a Creole or the Creoles.
☞ In New Orleans the word Creole is applied to any product, or variety of manufacture, peculiar to Louisiana; as, Creole ponies, chickens, cows, shoes, eggs, wagons, baskets, etc.
Webster 1828 Edition
Creole
CREOLE
,Noun.
Definition 2024
Creole
Creole
English
Noun
Creole (plural Creoles)
- A descendant of white European settlers who is born in a colonized country. [from 17th c.]
- 1969, Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt, The Political Systems of Empires (page 76)
- Within the Spanish society, a great difference evolved between the Insular Spaniards, sent over for different periods of time from Spain, to serve as officials, etc., and the "native" Spaniards, the Creoles.
- 1969, Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt, The Political Systems of Empires (page 76)
- Anyone with mixed ancestry born in a country colonized by white Europeans, now especially one who speaks a creole language. [from 18th c.]
- Someone of black African descent who is born in the Caribbean or Americas (originally as opposed to an African immigrant). [from 18th c.]
Derived terms
Translations
descendant of white settlers born in colonized country
Usage notes
- In modern usage, the human senses are not always easily distinguishable, but the term generally indicates groups with shared European heritage of some kind. In some specific cases the usage is mainly historical, but it remains a current term notably for descendants of French settlers in Louisiana and other parts of the United States.
Adjective
Creole (comparative more Creole, superlative most Creole)
- Pertaining to or characteristic of someone who is a Creole. [from 18th c.]
- (of a person) That is a Creole; especially, born in a colonized country different from that of his or her ancestors. [from 18th c.]
- Designating a creolized language. [from 18th c.]
- (cooking) Prepared according to a cooking style developed in a Creole area, now especially that of Louisiana, characterised by a mixture of European and African influences. [from 19th c.]
Proper noun
Creole
- Any specific creole language, especially that of Haiti. [from 18th c.]
- 2002, Matt Cyr, Something to Teach Me: Journal of an American in the Mountains of Haiti, Educa Vision, Inc., ISBN 1584321385, 25:
- His English is still in its beginning stages, like my Creole, but he was able to translate some Creole songs that he's written into English—not the best English, but English nonetheless.
- She grew up speaking Creole.
- Along with French, Creole is one of Haiti's official languages.
- 2002, Matt Cyr, Something to Teach Me: Journal of an American in the Mountains of Haiti, Educa Vision, Inc., ISBN 1584321385, 25:
creole
creole
English
Noun
creole (plural creoles)
- (linguistics) A lect formed from two or more languages which has developed from a pidgin to become a first language.
Derived terms
Derived terms
Translations
lect formed from two languages
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