Pancho Villa

5 7.1

A Mexican leader who fought in the Mexican Revolution and led guerrilla raids

proper noun
/ˈpɑːn.tʃoʊ ˈviː.jə/

: Pancho Villa

In the early 1900s, Pancho Villa became a symbol of resistance for many Mexicans.

Examples

Pancho Villa was known for his fierce leadership during the Mexican Revolution.
I rode with Pancho Villa.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Many historians regard Pancho Villa as a complex figure in the fight against oppression.

Synonyms

Francisco Villa

vsPancho Villa

1 8.0

A Mexican general and leader in the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s

is the familiar nickname used more in popular or informal contexts

Surface Forms

Pancho Villa main

Morphology

Pancho + Villa

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; knowing the literal constituents ('Pancho' and 'villa' as a noun meaning house) does not allow a learner to infer that this is a Mexican revolutionary leader. Proper names are arbitrary labels tied to world knowledge rather than compositional meaning, so the MWE's sense is not derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Pancho Villa was a real Mexican leader in the early 1900s who led fast raids on horseback during the Mexican Revolution. His bold, adventurous actions and fight for land and rights made him a 'folk hero' and a lasting symbol of rebellion and change.