irish twin
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.13 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
1
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Either of a pair of siblings born less than 12 months apart, especially if born within the same calendar year or school year or born one year apart.
Offensive; Slang
Example Sentences
- "I'm the oldest, my brother, Dylan, is the next oldest—my Irish twin.” “Irish twin?” “He's ten months younger, what is referred to sarcastically as an Irish twin. My parents still live in the same flat in Dublin I grew up in. I haven't been home much the last twelve years or so. How about you, darlin'?”"
Etymology
Originally used (in the nineteenth century) to mock the fertility of Irish families, referencing the stereotype that they have children in quicker succession.