Caló

[ kuh-loh; Spanish kah-law ]

/ kəˈloʊ; Spanish kɑˈlɔ /

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noun

a variety of Spanish influenced by Mexican underworld argot with a large admixture of English words, spoken especially by Mexican Americans in cities of the southwestern United States.

a language spoken by the Spanish and Portuguese Roma.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Sometimes ca·ló .

Origin of Caló

First recorded in 1840–45 for def. 2, and in 1945–50 for def. 1; from Spanish, from Romani

Words nearby Caló

calmative, calm before the storm, calmly, calmodulin, calmy, Caló, calochortus, calomel, calomel electrode, Caloocan, Caloosahatchee

How to use Caló in a sentence

Calo hopes that our visceral response to drones will prompt a national conversation.
Why Drones Make Us Nervous|Josh Dzieza|May 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Calo-John was slain in his tent by night, and the deed was piously ascribed to the lance of St. Demetrius.
The Walls of Constantinople|Bernard Granville Baker
That is Jaraicejo,” said Antonio; “a bad place it is and a bad place it has ever been for the Calo people.
The Bible in Spain|George Borrow
Calo he spoke in such a manner as to astonish the Spanish gipsies.
Letters to an Unknown|Prosper Mrime

For there be two manner of angels, a good and an evil, as the Greeks say, Cacho and Calo.
The Travels of Sir John Mandeville|John Mandeville
There were two ill-looking fellows in the kitchen, smoking cigars; I said something to Antonio in the Calo language.
The Bible in Spain|George Borrow