paisano

[ pahy-sah-noh, -zah-; Spanish pahy-sah-naw ]

noun

, plural pai·sa·nos [pahy-, sah, -nohz, -, zah, -, pahy-, sah, -naws].

1. a person who shares one’s place of origin; compatriot.
2. Informal. a pal; buddy; compadre.
3. Southwestern U.S.
   1. a person who lives in a rural area; farm laborer; rustic.
   2. a roadrunner.

paisano

/ paɪˈsɑːnəʊ; paiˈsano /

noun

1. informal.
   a friend; pal
2. a fellow countryman

Word History and Origins

Origin of paisano¹

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; from Spanish, from French paysan; peasant

Word History and Origins

Origin of paisano¹

C20: via Spanish from French paysan peasant

Example Sentences

Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, and Rock Hudson all stayed at El Paisano, still the grandest hotel in town.

From The Daily Beast

They received the usual frank welcome of a paisano, and were told to dismount and unsaddle.

From Project Gutenberg

The guerrillero is the irregular soldier, or armed paisano, who wages this little war.

From Project Gutenberg

Sick with expectancy of the news he feared, he rode up, dismounted, and dropped Paisano's reins.

From Project Gutenberg

Of these inhabitants the true paisano, the Gaucho, decidedly claims the chief share of attention.

From Project Gutenberg

Their cabalistic watchword was “Paisano” (fellow-countryman), their battle cry “Independence.”

From Project Gutenberg