gaucho

Where does the word "gaucho" come from? It comes from Quechua/Mapuche cauchu, passing through Spanish before entering English (1800s).

Gaucho’s story begins in Quechua/Mapuche: cauchu meant “a wanderer.” Of disputed origin, possibly referring to a wanderer or vagabond. By 1700s-1800s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as gaucho. Named the skilled horsemen of the South American plains. It reached English by 1800s as gaucho. José Hernández's poem 'Martín Fierro' (1872) made the gaucho a national symbol in Argentina. Today, gaucho means a skilled horseman and herder of the South American pampas.

1. Stage 1 · Quechua/Mapuche · pre-1600s cauchu "a wanderer", of disputed origin, possibly referring to a wanderer or vagabond.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1700s-1800s gaucho "a South American cowboy", named the skilled horsemen of the South American plains.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s gaucho "a South American cowboy or herdsman", José Hernández's poem 'Martín Fierro' (1872) made the gaucho a national symbol in Argentina.