Marrano
/məˈɹɑːnəʊ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of Marrano: a Jew who converted to Catholicism under threat or force. alt-of, historical
- 2 Any of the Sephardi Jews who stayed in Iberia during the Spanish Inquisition, and continued to practice Judaism in secret. Judaism, historical
"Look at the Crypto-Jews, the Marranos, who for centuries lived a double life, outwardly Christians, but handing down secretly from generation to generation the faith, the traditions, the observances of Judaism."
- 3 (medieval Spain and Portugal) a disparaging term for a Jew who converted to Christianity in order to avoid persecution but continued to practice their religion secretly wordnet
Example
More examples"Look at the Crypto-Jews, the Marranos, who for centuries lived a double life, outwardly Christians, but handing down secretly from generation to generation the faith, the traditions, the observances of Judaism."
Etymology
From Spanish marrano, of disputed origin. Perhaps a transferred use of marrano (“hog”), but many sources regard them as distinct words. Doublet of Muharram.