wetback

noun

wet·​back ˈwet-ˌbak How to pronounce wetback (audio)
offensive
—used as an insulting and contemptuous term for a Mexican who enters the U.S. illegally

Word History

Etymology

from the practice of wading or swimming the Rio Grande where it forms the U.S.-Mexico border

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wetback was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near wetback

weta

wetback

wet bar

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Wetback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wetback. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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