wetback

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wet·back

 (wĕt′băk′)
n. Offensive Slang
Used as a disparaging term for a person of Mexican birth or descent, especially one who has crossed the US-Mexico border illegally.

[From the fact that the Rio Grande is a common entry point.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

wetback

(ˈwɛtˌbæk)
n
(Peoples) informal offensive US a Mexican labourer who enters the US illegally
[C20: illegal immigrants would swim across the Rio Grande river to reach the US]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

wet•back

(ˈwɛtˌbæk)

n.
usage: This term is used with disparaging intent and is perceived as insulting.
n.
Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. (a contemptuous term used to refer to a Mexican laborer who enters the U.S. illegally.)
[1925–30, Amer.; alluding to the practice of swimming or wading the Rio Grande to enter the U.S.]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.wetback - (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Mexican descent
derogation, disparagement, depreciation - a communication that belittles somebody or something
ethnic slur - a slur on someone's race or language
Mexican - a native or inhabitant of Mexico
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Spanish / Español
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wetback

[ˈwetbæk] N (US) → inmigrante mf (mejicano) ilegal, espalda mf mojada
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

wetback

[ˈwɛtbæk] n (US)dos m mouilléwet blanket n (= person) → rabat-joie mf invwet dream npollution f nocturne
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
References in periodicals archive ?
workers is just plain wrong," says Monty, author of The Sons of Wetbacks. "Studies show they're vital to keeping the economy running."
He had with him a paperback edition of Carlos Bulosan's 'America is in the Heart,' where the figures on the cover looked more like Mexican wetbacks than Filipinos.
She sees two men pass; judging from their appearance, they must be wetbacks. For a second they exchange looks.
There is no question that references to "wetbacks" clearly applied to dark-skinned people swimming across the Rio Grande River in order to find opportunity in the U.S.
In addition to the bullying, the students say racist messages like ' wetbacks' and ' go back to Mexico' have been graffitied with chalk throughout the campus recently.
He said the "wetbacks" and "illegals" must be kept out of the United States because they were working for wages that were far too low, and thus ruining the man's project.
High profile Jewish celebrities and Jewish activist sets on board of directors of Elbit and are making millions off of Elbit Apartheids Steven spielberg, Adam Sandler, and pro Israeli right activist Pamela Geller who made no secret of her Anti Native American views Who preferred to Native Americans crossing boarder as wetbacks who should be shot like Israel does Palestinians.
By what might be called a "quirk of fate," first place in the league standings actually went to Captain Greg Delgado's "Wild Wetbacks," led by goalie Deano "Beano" Snyder.
(Helpful though the texts are, sometimes this didacticism overburdens, as the works are convincingly meaningful in themselves.) We learn, for instance, that Petroleum Romance, 2012, portrays conflict in the Middle East, and that Sudacas, Wetbacks and Balseroes, 2013, recalls the tragic misery of immigration.
Don Young (R-Alaska) learned the power of such a moment recently when, in a radio interview, he referred to the Latino immigrants who picked tomatoes on his father's farm in California as "wetbacks" Young pleaded ignorance as to the terms negative connotation after he was publically called out for it.