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Definition of murphy

murphy

/ˈmɜːrfi/
mur · phy
Plural:murphies
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murphy Lexical Profile

murphy Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An informal or dated slang term for a white or Irish potato, the edible starchy tuber of Solanum tuberosum.

Example

"The farmhands roasted a few murphies in the embers of the evening campfire."

2

American A confidence trick in which a victim pays a swindler for illicit goods or services inside a sealed envelope that actually contains only worthless paper.

Example

"The gullible tourist lost two hundred dollars in a classic street murphy near the train station."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for murphy

• Rhymes for murphy

• Nearby Words

murkiness
murky
murmur
murphy
murray
murray falls
murray river

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the common Irish surname Murphy (anglicized from Irish Ó Murchadha, meaning 'descendant of Murchadh', a personal name meaning 'sea warrior'), from the stereotypical association of the potato with Ireland.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Murphy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/murphy
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