Creole

Variously from French créole, from its source, Spanish criollo, and from its source, Portuguese crioulo, itself probably a diminutive of cria (“person raised in one’s house, servant”), from criar (“to rear, to bring up”), from Latin creō (“I create, make, produce”). Doublet of Criollo and crioulo.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹiːəʊl/, /ˈkɹeɪəʊl/
• (US) enPR: krēʹōl, IPA^(key): /ˈkɹiˌoʊl/, /ˈkɹeɪˌoʊl/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Rhymes: (General American) -ioʊl, (GA) -eɪoʊl, (Received Pronunciation) -iːəʊl, (RP) -eɪəʊl

Creole (plural Creoles)

1. A descendant of 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.

2. Anyone with mixed ancestry born in a country colonized by Europeans, now especially one who speaks a creole language. [from 18th c.]
3. Someone of African descent who is born in the Caribbean or Americas (originally as opposed to an African immigrant). [from 18th c.]
4. A native-born of Francophone descent in the Louisiana territory of any race, as opposed to Anglo-American settlers.

• 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.

Creole (comparative more Creole, superlative most Creole)

1. Pertaining to or characteristic of someone who is a Creole. [from 18th c.]
2. (of a person) That is a Creole; especially, born in a colonized country different from that of his or her ancestors. [from 18th c.]
3. Designating a creolized language. [from 18th c.]
4. (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.]

Creole

1. Any specific creole language, especially that of Haiti. [from 18th c.]

   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, page 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.

• Cajun Creole
• Creole cottage
• Creole cream cheese
• Creoleness
• Creole pig
• Creole State
• Creole townhouse
• Creolity
• Roper River Creole

• Ethnologue list of Creoles

• Audio

  (file)

Creole f (genitive Creole, plural Creolen)

1. (chiefly in the plural) hoop earring