Mediterranean Irish

Noun

 * 1)  A member of a national group of the Eastern Mediterranean, especially one which was subjected to a period of British rule or occupation, such as the Greek or Italian people.

Adjective

 * 1) Of or pertaining to such people.
 * 2) * 2007, "Advertisement for 'Kiss Me...I'm Irish' T-shirt, zazzle.com, comment posted by Donamaria, 24 Feb. (retrieved 21 Jan 2008) :
 * My dear deceased mama used to say to me when I was young and cried b/c I was all Italian. . . "You're Mediterranean Irish and that's good enough" on St. Pat's day!

Usage notes

 * As indicated by the quotations, this term seems to have evolved. In contemporary North American usage, it is used as a jocular, relatively inoffensive nickname for people of Italian extraction. In earlier, mainly British usage it was a derogatory designation for Ionian Greeks.

Related terms

 * Mediterranean Irishman