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Spic

//ˈspɪk// noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    completely neat and clean wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    Synonym of Latino, an inhabitant of Latin America or person of Latin American descent. US, derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur
  2. 2
    (ethnic slur) offensive term for persons of Latin American descent wordnet
  3. 3
    Synonym of Italian, an inhabitant of Italy or person of Italian descent. US, ethnic, slur, uncommon

    "“He’s a spic” he said. He was frantic with jealousy, he didn’t want to be hurt again."

Etymology

First attested in this spelling in the 1910s, from earlier spig, spiggoty, spikity, generally taken to derive from a (stereotype of a) Hispanic pronunciation of "(no) speak d(e) English" (especially as used by the laborers who dug the Panama Canal). There are also later (1960s) suggestions that the term referred instead to Italians and derives from spaghetti, but there is little to back this up.

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