bruja

American  

[broo-huh, broo-khah] / ˈbru hə, ˈbru xɑ /

noun

plural

brujas

1. in Latin America and parts of the West Indies, a woman who practices Brujería, a form of witchcraft or traditional religion.

   Many in the town believe she is a bruja who uses her herbal cures for good.

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Etymology

Origin of bruja

First recorded in 1825–35; from Spanish: “owl, witch,” of disputed origin; perhaps from a pre-Roman Celtic term relating to severe weather (akin to Catalan calabruix “hail”); alternatively, possibly distantly akin to Irish briosag “witch” or briocht “amulet, charm”; compare Aragonese broxa, Catalan bruixa, Gascon broucho, Occitan bruèissa, Portuguese bruxa

Example Sentences

Lafayette is living with his warlock boyfriend Jesus, who prefers to be called a "bruja" because he is Mexican.

From Salon • Jun. 26, 2011

But when the Yaqui recommended that he see a Puerto Rican bruja about a cure.

From Time Magazine Archive

Doctors can do little for the pangs of unlucky love, but any bruja worth her fee knows that a dried hummingbird pinned inside a girl's dress will usually bring back a strayed lover.

From Time Magazine Archive

Needless to say, she is terrified of Chucha, who dresses in purple like a bruja and sleeps in a coffin.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez

“Hey, Tony, is it true what they say? Is there a bruja at your house?”

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya