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caló

noun
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ca·​ló | \ kə-ˈlō How to pronounce caló (audio) \

Definition of caló

: any of several Spanish argots especially : an argot used by Chicano youths in cities of the U.S. Southwest

First Known Use of caló

1947, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for caló

borrowed from Spanish, "argot, speech of the Spanish Roma," borrowed from Iberian Romani kalo "speech of the Roma, black," going back to Old Indo-Aryan *kāla- "black, dark" (whence Sanskrit kālaḥ "black, dark blue"), borrowed from a Dravidian source akin to Kannada kāḷ "blackness," kaḍu "blackness, black," Telugu karu "black"

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The first known use of caló was in 1947

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Cite this Entry

“Caló.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cal%C3%B3. Accessed 27 Oct. 2020.

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