pachuco

[ puh-choo-koh; Spanish pah-choo-kaw ]

noun

, plural pa·chu·cos [p, uh, -, choo, -kohz, pah-, choo, -kaws].

1. a Mexican American member of a young street gang subculture popular during the first half of the 20th century and known for its flamboyant style and fashion, similar in many ways to the zoot-suit subculture.

Pachuco

/ pəˈtʃuːkəʊ /

noun

1. a young Mexican living in the US, esp one of low social status who belongs to a street gang

Word History and Origins

Origin of pachuco¹

First recorded in 1940–45; from Spanish (Mexico, southwestern U.S.) : probably originally a resident of El Paso, Texas, equivalent to (El) Pas(o) + -uco pejorative noun suffix, with expressive replacement of s by ch; compare Mexican Spanish pachuco “worthless card hand,” derivative of paso “pass”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pachuco¹

C20: from Mexican Spanish