Marrano

[ muh-rah-noh ]

/ məˈrɑ noʊ /

noun, plural Mar·ra·nos.

a Spanish or Portuguese Jew who was converted to Christianity during the late Middle Ages, usually under threat of death or persecution, especially one who continued to adhere to Judaism in secret.

Origin of Marrano

< Spanish: literally, pig, from the Jewish law forbidding the eating of pork (probably < Arabic maḥram forbidden)

Example sentences from the Web for marrano

A Marrano physician, who had escaped from Portugal, and was his devoted adherent, received the crown of Portugal.

History of the Jews, Vol. V (of 6) |Heinrich Graetz
He consented to the restriction of Marrano emigration, so strenuously insisted upon by the Portuguese court.

History of the Jews, Vol. IV (of VI) |Heinrich Graetz
After all, the writer turned out to be a Marrano, one Emanuel da Costa.

History of the Jews, Vol. IV (of VI) |Heinrich Graetz
The king did, indeed, institute a strict inquiry to discover the accomplices of the two Marrano monks.

History of the Jews, Vol. IV (of VI) |Heinrich Graetz

There were then in Hamburg 125 adults of Marrano descent, among whom were ten capitalists, two physicians, and three artisans.

History of the Jews, Vol. IV (of VI) |Heinrich Graetz

British Dictionary definitions for marrano

Marrano

/ (məˈrɑːnəʊ) /

noun plural -nos

a Spanish or Portuguese Jew of the late Middle Ages who was converted to Christianity, esp one forcibly converted but secretly adhering to Judaism

Word Origin for Marrano

from Spanish, literally: pig, with reference to the Jewish prohibition against eating pig meat

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

Marrano

noun, plural Mar·ra·nos.

Origin of Marrano

Example sentences from the Web for marrano

British Dictionary definitions for marrano

noun plural -nos

Word Origin for Marrano