paesano

[ pahy-zon-oh ]

noun

, plural pae·sa·ni [pahy-, zon, -ee], pae·san·os [pahy-, zon, -ohz].

1. a person who shares one’s place of origin; a compatriot, especially among Italians or people of Italian descent.
2. a person associated with the Italian mafia; mafioso.

Word History and Origins

Origin of paesano¹

First recorded in 1930–35; from Italian; literally, “countryman, fellow countryman,” from Late Latin adjective and noun pāgēnsis “pertaining to the country or a country district; an inhabitant of the country”; pagan ( def ), peasant ( def )

Example Sentences

He has said that to her, the common-place daughter of the "Paesano" Niccolo Gallioti.

From Project Gutenberg

If the man is in the city some "landsmann," some "paesano" has seen him, and knows where he is to be found.

From Project Gutenberg