Why as a dergatory term are irish people called "micks" and "dogs"? Where does this come from?

Question

I once saw this famous bar in new york that said "No Dogs or Irishmen allowed" ? Dogs? what does that have to do with people of irish descent?

Answer 1

The sign wasn't literally calling Irish people dogs. They were just bringing Irish people down to how people think of dogs. In a Bruce Lee movie they do the same thing, except it's "no dogs or Chinese allowed."

And I'm guessing they called Irish people "micks" because a lot of Irish last names start with a "mick" sound, like McGee, McDonald, McFarlane, McGuiness, etc.

Answer 2

Many Irish surnames begin with "Mc" (McMillian, McDougal) and it is expressed as "mick" for short. The bar that you saw the sign on may have been an English bar, and I am guessing that because there is a rivalry between Irish and English - the sign was puttting the Irish on the same level as allowing a dog into the place.

Answer 3

I've never known 'dogs' to be a derogatory term for the Irish. You might be misinterpreting the sign on that one. However, Micks comes from Mc -- which, ironically enough, seems to be more prominent amongst the Scottish as opposed to the Irish (O').

Answer 4

Many Irish surnames begin with "Mc" or "Mick", as in McDowell, or McShane, from which people from Ireland often get the nickname "Mick". (Mc usually means "son of". For instance the surname MacDonnell literally means son of Donnell.) Many Irish people are also named after the Irish leader Michael Collins, making Michael (Mick) a very common name.

It is sometimes used, usually with a lower-case "m", as an offensive slang term in British English and American English for an Irish person or a Roman Catholic. This is unrelated to the name Michael, however.

The term "mick" is also used as slang in the phrase taking the mickey or take the mick meaning to tease.


Kike or Kyke is a derogatory term used chiefly in the United States to refer to a Jew.

Use of the term is strongly discouraged in formal communication by editors in most major English-speaking media outlets, with the exception of direct quotes and references to the term's use, history, and impact.

The Interactive Dictionary of Racial Language refers to the term as "one of the most widespread racial slurs of American origin" and "certainly the king of the pejorative terms for Jews." [1]

However, it should be noted that "Kike" is a legitimate formal first name (with different etymology) in some languages, such as Dutch and Spanish. For example, multiple-Grammy award winning Colombian composer, Kike Santander[2].

A "Wop", or "Big Wopper" as once said by Kai (U.S. & UK Commonwealth) is an Italian (sometimes any Southern European), especially an immigrant; probably originated in the U.S., but later spread to other countries. Probably derives from the Neapolitan slang term guappo! (pretty/handsome one), often used by the first immigrants from Italy to address or call to each other. Popular etymology gives the origin as "WithOut Passport", although some believe the acronym derived from "WithOut Papers" or "Without Official Papers", suggesting illegal immigration. This folk etymology sometimes combines the term with "guinea" to form "Giny Wop," with Giny being an acronym for Going Into New York, hence "Going Into New York Without Official Papers".