gaucho

noun

gau·​cho ˈgau̇-(ˌ)chō How to pronounce gaucho (audio)
plural gauchos
: a cowboy of the South American pampas

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The nomadic and colorful horsemen of the Argentine and Uruguayan plains, the gauchos remain folk heroes famed for hardiness and lawlessness. Gauchos flourished from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century. At first they rounded up the herds of horses and cattle that roamed freely on the vast grasslands east of the Andes. In the early 19th century, they fought first in the armies that defeated the Spanish colonial regime and then for the military dictators who jockeyed for power after independence. Argentine writers celebrated the gauchos, and gaucho literature is an important part of the Argentine cultural tradition.

Examples of gaucho in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The polo shirt obviously comes to mind, as does the iconic fashion and lifestyle brand Polo Ralph Lauren, but there are also more subtle references—such as the horse bit loafer, or the classic gaucho alpargata, which inspired the modern mens’ espadrille. Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2024 Her navy polo, gaucho shorts, and makeup-free face evoked an innocent schoolgirl. Bob Morris, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024 Here are my picks: Ride across the low grasslands with a gaucho, or South American cowboy guide, at Estancia Vik. Luz Culinary Wine Lodge, located in the fishing village of José Ignacio, sets the table for a gastronomic stay in a pine forest. Olivia Schellenberg, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2024 Hearst launched her namesake brand in 2015 with a then-radical idea that environmental sustainability could be luxury, and has built it into a powerhouse of feminine polish and gaucho earthiness. Booth Moore, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for gaucho 

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gaucho was in 1824

Dictionary Entries Near gaucho

Cite this Entry

“Gaucho.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gaucho. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

gaucho

noun
gau·​cho ˈgau̇-chō How to pronounce gaucho (audio)
plural gauchos
: a cowboy of the South American grass-covered plains

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