coon

n.

1. Informal. A raccoon.
2. Offensive Slang. Used as a disparaging term for a Black person.

[Short for RACCOON.]

The derogatory term "coon" was used, evidently accidentally, by a rookie radio talk show host who says he meant to use the word "coup" while discussing the possibility of Condoleezza Rice becoming NFL commissioner one day. The slip cost him his job, but Rice forgave him:

"On his show, Lenihan said: 'She's been chancellor of Stanford. She's got the patent resume of somebody that has serious skill. She loves football. She's African-American, which would kind of be a big coon. A big coon. Oh my God. I am totally, totally, totally, totally, totally sorry for that.' "

Link: Rice Accepts DJ's Apology for Racial Slur

Posted March 27, 2006.

See our Word Overheard blog to see interesting uses of strange words.

American cheddar-type cheese, but manufacture includes scalding the milk.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - vaskebjørn, neger

Nederlands (Dutch)
zwarte (scheldnaam), wasbeertje

Français (French)
n. - (US, Zool) raton laveur

Deutsch (German)
n. - Waschbär, (Slang) Nigger

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ζωολ.) ρακούν, προκύων, (υβρ.) νέγρος, σκυλάραπας
abbr. - (ζωολ.) ρακούν, προκύων

Italiano (Italian)
procione, negro

Português (Portuguese)
n. - guaxinim (m) (Zool.), negro (m) (gír.)
abbr. - guaxinim (m)

Русский (Russian)
енот

Español (Spanish)
n. - mapache

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - tvättbjörn (am.), neger (neds. sl.), bondlurk (am. sl.)
abbr. - tvättbjörn

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
浣熊, 黑人, 狡滑兔

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 浣熊, 黑人, 狡滑兔

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 미국 너구리, 흑인, 사내

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - アライグマ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) شخص أسود (اختصار) مختصر لحيوان الراكون‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮דביבון (יונק טורף אמריקאי), שחור, כושי‬

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