Etymology Map
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Picaresque

3 stages from Spanish to English.

Today it means relating to an episodic story about a roguish hero

Where does the word "picaresque" come from? It comes from Spanish pícaro, passing through French before entering English (1810s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
pícaro
Spanish · 1500s
"rogue"
a rogue; the anonymous 'Lazarillo de Tormes' of 1554 founded the 'novela picaresca'
2
Stage 2 of 3
picaresque
French · 1700s
"roguish"
a term of literary criticism
3
Stage 3 of 3
picaresque
English · 1810s
"episodic and roguish"
applied to novels such as 'Tom Jones' and 'Moll Flanders'
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Read the full story

Picaresque’s story begins in Spanish: pícaro meant “rogue.” A rogue; the anonymous 'Lazarillo de Tormes' of 1554 founded the 'novela picaresca'. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as picaresque. A term of literary criticism. It reached English by 1810s as picaresque. Applied to novels such as 'Tom Jones' and 'Moll Flanders'. Today, picaresque means relating to an episodic story about a roguish hero.