quadroon

noun

qua·​droon kwä-ˈdrün How to pronounce quadroon (audio)
plural quadroons
dated, offensive
: a person of one-quarter Black ancestry

Word History

Etymology

modification of Spanish cuarterón, from cuarto fourth, from Latin quartus — more at quart

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quadroon was in 1707

Browse Nearby Words

quadrivoltine
quadroon
quadrotor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quadroon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadroon. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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