English Dictionary - With Multi-Lingual Search

wikipedia|dab=wetback
English

Pronunciation
AHD|wĕt AHD|băk
IPA|/wɛt/IPA|/băk/
SAMPA|/wEt/*SAMPA|/băk/

Etymology
First used in w:1920|1920's from the presumed effects of swimming or wading across the w:Rio Grande|Rio Grande. Used by the U.S. Government in 1954 with w:Operation Wetback|Operation Wetback.

Noun
en-noun

1. derogatory A Mexican or Central American who illegally enters the United States of America from its southern border.
2. derogatory A person of the Mestizo race, used interchangeably with the Spanish language|Spanish term, mojado.

Translations
Spanish: mojado, espalda mojada

See also
illegal alien
illegals

category:Slang
Category:Ethnic slurs

ru:wetback
zh:wetback

• 2007-08-31 13:46 - WikiPedant - copyedited a bit

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