wop

American  

[wop] / wɒp /

noun

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

1. a contemptuous term used to refer to an Italian or a person of Italian descent.

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wop ¹ British  

/ wɒp /

noun

1. slang a member of a Latin people, esp an Italian

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wop ² British  

/ wɒp /

verb

1. a variant spelling of whop

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Etymology

Origin of wop

An Americanism first recorded in 1910–15; from Italian (Neapolitan and Sicilian dialect) guappo “bully, showy,” from Spanish guapo “a dandy”; further origin uncertain, possibly ultimately from Latin vappa “wine that has gone flat; worthless or useless person.” The belief that this word is an acronym of “without papers/passport,” in reference to immigration status, is without substance