gavacho

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Galician[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Attested since 1808 during the Peninsular war. Ultimately from Occitan gavach, originally ‘bird’s crop, goitre, swelling’, later ‘mountain-dweller, northerner, peasant’ (because of the high incidence of disease in these populations). Influenced by gabar (to boast).

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

gavacho (feminine gavacha, masculine plural gavachos, feminine plural gavachas)

  1. arrogant; boastful

Noun[edit]

gavacho m (plural gavachos, feminine gavacha, feminine plural gavachas)

  1. (vulgar, ethnic slur, slang, derogatory) Frenchy
    • 1808, anonymous author, Un labrador que foi sarxento:
      Si eu fora alá, meus queridos, por esta Cruz volo xuro, con mil cabezas francesas, había de vir, moi rufo; Esto con ser xa tan vello; mais vós, con catro estornudos, non deixarés un Gabacho, si poñedes ben os puntos; Ide á guerra, meus garridos, Dios vos axude, meus rulos, e aquel Patrón das Españas, que ten o pelo moi rubio
      If I go there, my loved ones, I swear on this cross that with a thousand French heads I would return, sound and healthy. And this being myself as old as I am. But you, with just four sneezes, won't leave a Frenchy left, if you put the points correctly. Go to war, my fine youngsters, God help you, my darlings, and that patron of the Spains who is so blonde!

References[edit]