boricua

[ baw-ree-kwuh ]

noun

1. a Puerto Rican, or person of Puerto Rican descent:

   He’s a proud boricua.

adjective

1. of or relating to Puerto Rico or Puerto Ricans: The new production of West Side Story will prioritize boricua casting.

   the top ten boricua restaurants in New York;

   The new production of West Side Story will prioritize boricua casting.

Word History and Origins

Origin of boricua¹

First recorded in 1945–50; from Taíno Borikén “the great land of the valiant and noble lord” (the name of the island)