Cantwoman is an Irish regional term for a female auctioneer — a woman who conducts auctions by calling out bids and driving up the price with the classic rapid-fire patter that defines the trade.
Cantwoman is an Irish regional term for a female auctioneer — a woman who conducts auctions by calling out bids and driving up the price with the classic rapid-fire patter that defines the trade. The 'cant' element comes from the Irish word for auction, 'ceant', making this a satisfying bit of linguistic heritage. In Ireland, going to a cant (auction) is a normal part of rural and market life, and a skilled cantwoman is someone you don't want to underestimate.
The cantwoman had the room buzzing as she rattled through lot after lot without breaking a sweat.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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(Irish) A male auctioneer.
An Irish term for a male auctioneer, from the Irish cant meaning an auction or public sale. The word reflects the tradition of outdoor or public auctions in rural Ireland. Now somewhat dated but still understood in Irish English in auction and rural contexts.
(Ireland, politics) A female counting agent.
(informal) A female singer, soprano, a coloratura singer.
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(Ireland) A female auctioneer.
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