cacafuego

noun cac·a·fue·go \ ˌkakəˈfyü(ˌ)gō , -fwā(- \

variants: or less commonly cacafugo \-fyü(-\

Definition of cacafuego

plural -s

obsolete

: a swaggering braggart or boaster

There's more!

Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
Advanced search features
Ad free!

Origin and Etymology of cacafuego

Spanish Cacafuego, name of a ship captured in 1579 by Sir Francis Drake, from Latin cacare to void as excrement + Spanish fuego fire, from Latin focus hearth

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1625

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year