Word: dago Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Alteration of diego (“Spaniard”), from Spanish Diego (common Spanish name) by law of Hobson-Jobson. The term originated among sailors from the Northern United States, first attested in Boston in 1838. "Diego" is the Portuguese nickname for any deckhand. After transforming into "dago" in English, the word gradually came to denote any southern European in a generic manner. From there, the word spread to England by the 1890s, and to Australia following WW1. In Australia, it has undergone a narrowing in scope, now chiefly meaning "Italian", following a mass migration of Italians to Australia post-WW2. Pronunciation: /ˈdeɪɡəʊ/ 1. A crewman who speaks Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian. Labels: derogatory, obsolete, often, slang Example: The man-of-war’s-man, in sporting his money in those places, fancies himself perfectly at home; and he that dares for a moment to interrupt or oppose him, be he Dago or shipmate, will inevitably meet with a rebuff for his uninvited and indecorous intrusion; but coincide with him, extol the merits and virtues of the turpentine gin with which he is inflating himself, and you are as welcome, and will meet with as spirited and hearty reception, as great a quantity of the “precious stuff,” more or no money, as though you were his revered and legitimate brother. Example: I interviewed his aid to know what the Dago's rank was (Sailors call everybody that speaks Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, Dagos) 2. A person of Southern European descent. Labels: England, US, dated, ethnic, slur Example: Detective J.J. McVea of the Charles street station, who arrested the boys, says that the robbery of the safe was a remarkable one and showed no trace of amateurism. It was committed by four boys. Besides Lyons and Murphy, he says, there were in it Albert Moquin, 14 years old, of 68 West Third street, and one whom Lyons calls “Oscar the Wop,” or “Oscar the Dago.” Example: When American troops are brigaded with the French, and fight side by side with the British, and realize that the line they hold is also held by the People of India, Portugal, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia and other countries they realize what brotherhood means. Can a true American ever again call an Italian a “Dago”? The resistance of the Italians is relieving the pressure on the western front, now intensified by the defection of Russia. The people of the world are neighbors on the battlefields of Europe. Should they not even more be “brothers in Christ”? Christians need to be reminded occasionally that one cannot be a true follower of Christ and not be friendly with peoples of other nations, no matter what their tongue or color or skin. Dubuque College by educating young men of thirty nations to be preachers of righteousness to their fellow countrymen is helping to demonstrate true democracy. 3. A person of Italian descent, more specifically. Labels: Australia, US, dated, ethnic, slur Example: There were Greeks and greasy Greeks, there were Chinese and Chinks, there were English and Pommies, but most of them clung to legitimacy. But with the Italians it was different. There were no Italians. All Italians were dago bastards. [...] Branigan had never worried, his position had been unique. But with most others, it was different. If, on returning from holidays their jobs had been filled by previously unemployed Australians, it was bad enough. But if their positions had been filled with Italians, the dago bastards came in for a flurry of fists. Example: ‘Oh, well,’ Branigan shrugged, as he got about his shower. ‘Good or bad, I reckon he’s pretty easy with you. You’re about the only Dago I know who hasn’t stuck with his family, and yet he helps.’ Ivo’s eyes flashed. ‘I don’t like you calling me Dago.’ ‘Why?’ Branigan was lathering up his body, nude, unabashed in the usual manner. ‘What’s it mean? Dago?’ ‘I dunno, it Italian name. Me Slav, Yugoslav. I tell you that long time ago.’ ‘You’re all the same to me,’ Branigan grinned. Ivo was as Italian as Rome. ‘Bah.’ 4. A Catholic. Labels: US, derogatory, rare