paisano
1
9.6
- noun
- /paɪˈzɑːnoʊ/
- US
:
paisano
- As paisanos watched the Anglo tide roll across Texas and into eastern New Mexico, they cast their votes with added determination.
Examples
-
Even as Anglo speculators took possession of ancestral land grants, the vast majority of nativos, the rural paisanos, still lived in villages scattered across the northern two-thirds of the territory.
Academic text (2001) -
The festival was a celebration of our culture, bringing together paisanos from all over the region.
-
At each election, paisanos elected Spanish-speaking representatives for town, county, and even territorial government.
Academic text (2001) -
Rather than separating themselves from the working class, los ricos saw in thousands of paisano votes their best hope of stalemating the Anglo advance.
Academic text (2001) -
More importantly, los ricos recognized that their fate was intertwined with the fortunes of los paisanos.
Academic text (2001) -
Struggling to earn an income, paisanos migrated to seasonal jobs in Colorado and Wyoming but continued to work their fields and pastures, growing chile and raising sheep next to the graves of their ancestors.
Academic text (2001) -
Our community is filled with paisanos who share similar traditions and values.
-
At the reunion, many paisanos reminisced about their shared childhood experiences in the old neighborhood.
Synonyms
5
9.1
A friend from the same country or background often used by Italian-American communities
1
9.5
A person from the same town, region or country who is also a friend
Surface Forms
Etymology
Paisano comes from the Spanish país, which means 'country', and the Italian paese, which means 'village' or 'country'. So a paisano is someone from your own country or region, which is why meeting one often feels like finding a fellow countryman.