pachuco
[ puh-choo-koh; Spanish pah-choo-kaw ]
/ pəˈtʃu koʊ; Spanish pɑˈtʃu kɔ /
noun, plural pa·chu·cos [puh-choo-kohz; Spanish pah-choo-kaws] /pəˈtʃu koʊz; Spanish pɑˈtʃu kɔs/.
(especially among Mexican-Americans) a teenage youth who belongs to a street gang known for its flamboyant style.
Origin of pachuco
1940–45; < American Spanish (U.S. Southwest), Mexican Spanish: probably originally a resident of
El Paso, equivalent to (
El)
Pas(o) +
-uco pejorative noun suffix, with expressive replacement of
s by
ch; compare Mexican Spanish
pachuco worthless card hand, derivative of
paso pass
Words nearby pachuco
pachisi,
pachmann,
pachomius,
pachouli,
pachuca,
pachuco,
pachy-,
pachyblepharon,
pachycephalosaurus,
pachycephaly,
pachycheilia
British Dictionary definitions for pachuco
Pachuco
/ (pəˈtʃuːkəʊ) /
noun plural -cos
US
a young Mexican living in the US, esp one of low social status who belongs to a street gang
Word Origin for Pachuco
C20: from Mexican Spanish