The New Cool Word

What it means

‘Shabberoon’ has a few different meanings, but is most commonly known as (old) British slang for a ‘ferub’ (another great word, meaning pitiful) fellow, a ragamuffin (also awesome) or a tramp. A few online dictionaries also had it defined as, ‘a mean-spirited person’.

Where it comes from

There’s not that much information available about the history of shabberoon. I can only assume this is because people just aren’t using it anymore. However, it’s apparently 17th century slang. Another source defined it as ‘a shabby person’. Shabby, shabberoon… doesn’t seem totally off the mark. 

An example of its usage can be found in John B. Sanford’s “The winters of that country: tales of the man made seasons”, which was first published in 1904. At least we know it stuck around for a little while (and can therefore do so again)!

Only Tories found a boon in the shabberoon regiement: it was a cure, they thought, for Adams (Sam) and his Sons of Liberty.

Why it’s the new cool word

Two b’s, two o’s? Now really, how can you go wrong there?

Seriously though, we’re running out of good insults and ways to describe people. The language that was once used for insulting others used to be so colourful and vibrant, but it seems our word choice is dwindling away to where we’re left with ‘dumb’, ‘stupid’, ‘jerk’ and a variety of unintelligent words starting (or ending) with ‘ass’ and ‘fuck’. Let’s raise the bar! 

How we should use it

There’s enough words still floating around that are akin to ‘tramp’, so I vote that we bring it back meaning a ‘ragamuffin’ or a ‘mean-spirited person’. 

Say it condescendingly. Your victim will have no idea what has hit them. Of course if you’re using it to talk about someone instead of throwing it at them, it paints a (negatively) wonderful image of your target.

So instead of, “He’s gross”, use, “He’s such a shabberoon!”. Or change, “Why do you have to be such a bitch?” to “Why do you have to be such a shabberoon?”. 

Perfect.