Advertisement

Advertisement

wetback

[wet-bak]

noun

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

  1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Mexican laborer who enters the U.S. illegally, as by wading the Rio Grande.

wetback

/ ˈɛˌæ /

noun

  1. informala Mexican labourer who enters the US illegally

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of wetback1

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50; wet + back 1
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of wetback1

C20: illegal immigrants would swim across the Rio Grande river to reach the US

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

wet-and-dry-bulb thermometerwet bar

Browse

  • #
  • aa
  • bb
  • cc
  • dd
  • ee
  • ff
  • gg
  • hh
  • ii
  • jj
  • kk
  • ll
  • mm
  • nn
  • oo
  • pp
  • qq
  • rr
  • ss
  • tt
  • uu
  • vv
  • ww
  • xx
  • yy
  • zz