bracero

[bruh-sair-oh, brah-; Spanish brah-se-raw]

noun, plural bra·ce·ros

[bruh-sair-ohz, brah-; Spanish brah-se-raws] /brəˈsɛər oʊz, brɑ-; Spanish brɑˈsɛ rɔs/.

a Mexican laborer admitted legally into the U.S. for a short period to perform seasonal, usually agricultural, labor.

Origin of bracero

1915–20; < Spanish: laborer, literally, one who swings his arms. See brace, -ary