Used as a disparaging term for a Mexican, especially a laborer who crosses the U.S. border illegally.
[From the fact that the Rio Grande is a common entry point.]
wetback
Dictionary:
wet·back (wĕt'băk')  |
| 5min Related Video: wetbacks |
| WordNet: wetback |
The noun has one meaning:
Meaning #1:
ethnic slur; offensive terms for a person of Mexican descent
Synonyms: greaser, taco
| Wikipedia: Wetback (slur) |
- For other uses, see: Wetback (disambiguation)
Wetback is a derogatory term for an illegal alien of Hispanic descent. Commonly referring to illegal alien Mexicans, although applicable to all Latinos, who have crossed the border illegally, the term originated with those who entered Texas from Mexico by crossing the Rio Grande,[1] presumably by swimming or wading across and getting his or her back wet in the process.
The first mention of the term in The New York Times is dated June 20, 1920.[2] It was used officially by the US government in 1954, with Operation Wetback,[3] a project where a large number of Mexican nationals were deported.
Wetback became a popular slur in other states with large illegal alien populations, such as California, Arizona and New Mexico, especially among those who were adversely affected, whether by crime, loss of employment, or supposed diminution of American culture, by the large influx of illegal aliens in the late 20th century.
An equivalent Spanish term, mojado,[4] is sometimes used by legal immigrants and native-born Hispanic Americans as an insult to illegal immigrants. Another equivalent colloquial term for an illegal immigrant who crosses the border into the US is alambrista [5] or sudaca.
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==References==
- ^ "Rio Grande Wetbacks: Mexican Migrant Workers". Education Resources Information Center. http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED071800&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED071800. Retrieved on 2008-09-12.
- ^ "Welcomed Mexican Invasion --- Thousands of Families Crossing the Border to Till the Soil and Otherwise Build Up the Southwest", The New York Times, 20 June 1920, p. XX6.
- ^ "Wetback". Interactive Dictionary of Racial Language. http://kpearson.faculty.tcnj.edu/Dictionary/wetback.htm. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
- ^ "Mojado". Reverso Dictionary. http://dictionary.reverso.net/spanish-english/mojado. Retrieved on 2008-09-12.
- ^ "Alambrista". Double-Tongued Dictionary. http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/dictionary/alambrista/. Retrieved on 2008-09-11.
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| Translations: Wetback |
Dansk (Danish)
n. - grænseoverløber fra Mexico
Nederlands (Dutch)
illegale Mexicaanse immigrant in de US
Français (French)
n. - (US) travailleur mexicain entré illégalement aux États-Unis (injur)
Deutsch (German)
n. - illegaler mexikanischer Einwanderer
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ΗΠΑ, καθομ.) παράνομος Μεξικανός μετανάστης
Italiano (Italian)
emigrante illegale messicano
Português (Portuguese)
n. - usado para um mexicano (m), especialmente que cruza a fronteira ilegalmente
Русский (Russian)
нелегальный иммигрант из Мексики
Español (Spanish)
n. - inmigrante mejicano ilegal, bracero
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - illegal mexikansk invandrare (sl.)
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
非法墨西哥工人
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 非法墨西哥工人
한국어 (Korean)
n. - 미국에 밀입국하는 멕시코인
日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 米国に不法入国するメキシコ人
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) المكسيكي الذي يتسلل إلى الولايات المتحدة
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - גונב הגבול בין מכסיקו לארה"ב
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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Mentioned in
- Murieron a Mitad del Rio (1987 Film)
- Season 01: Mind of Mencia (TV Episode) (2005 TV Episode)
- Giant (1956 Drama Film)
- The Politicians
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