Etymograph

English

pidgin

Pidgin comes from English business.

  1. English1500–presentbusiness1
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1950pidgin1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English pidgin, which cites OED
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1950, Robert A. Heinlein: “Forget money. That's my pidgin.”.

Lineage

  1. English1500–presentbusinessWiktionary, English pidgin, which cites OED
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1950pidginWiktionary, English pidgin, which cites OED. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1950, Robert A. Heinlein: “Forget money. That's my pidgin.”

Linked words

through English business

pigeon, biz

Today it means

noun An amalgamation of two disparate languages, used by two populations having no common language as a lingua franca to communicate with each other, lacking formalized grammar and having a small, utilitarian vocabulary and no native speakers. The speech is slow and supported by mime and gesture.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “pidgin”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / English business / pidgin

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