dago

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Usage notes 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.1.1 Usage notes

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪɡəʊ

[edit] Etymology 1

From Spanish Diego, a common Spanish name. See Johnnie and Jock for similar epithets.

[edit] Noun

dago (plural dagoes or dagos)

1. (British, slang, pejorative) A person of Italian, Hispanic, or Portuguese descent.

Usually a sailor or deckhand. "Diego" is the Portuguese nickname for any deckhand and "Jack" is the British equivalent.

[edit] Usage notes

The sense has become less pejorative in recent years, with people of Spanish or Portuguese origin themselves adopting the term.

[edit] Etymology 2

[edit] Noun

dago (plural dagoes)

1. (US, Australian, slang, pejorative) A person of Italian descent.

[edit] Usage notes

The sense has become more pejorative in recent years, having been considered more acceptable at the start of the 20th century. Compare to goombah, Guido, guinea, wog and wop.