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rancheria

noun ran·che·ria \ ˌranchəˈrēə \

Definition of rancheria

plural -s
1 : a dwelling place of a ranchero
2 : a small settlement often consisting of huts occupied especially by Amerindians or Mexicans
  • it was among these rancherias … that the missions found their most fertile field for labor
  • —F. M. & Marie Keesing

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Origin and Etymology of rancheria

Mexican Spanish ranchería, from ranchero + Spanish -ía -y (from Latin -ia)

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