huerco

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Old Spanish

Etymology

From Latin Orcus (the underworld; the god Pluto). Cognate with Old French ogre (fierce non-Christian; fairytale man-eating giant).

Pronunciation

Noun

huerco m (plural huercos)

  1. Hell
    • ca. 1439, Juan de Mena, Comentario a la "Coronación del Marqués de Santillana" :
      era él esclaresçido rey e señor don Juan de Castilla e de León enbiando las sus ánimas a la boca del huerco, conviene a saber del infierno
      He was the illuminated king and lord John of Castile and Leon who sent souls to the doors of Orcus, by which is meant Hell
  2. the Devil
    • ca. 1305 CE, anonymous, Libro del cavallero Cifar :
      ¿e dó huirá el que al huerco deue?
      And where can someone who owes the Devil escape to?

Descendants

  • Spanish: huerco
  • Ladino: guerko, huerco (Haketia)

Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Spanish huerco (Hell; the Devil), from Latin Orcus (the underworld; the god Pluto). Cognate with English ogre and orc. Doublet of orco and ogro.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈw̝eɾko/
  • Rhymes: -eɾko
  • Syllabification: huer‧co

Noun

huerco m (plural huercos, feminine huerca, feminine plural huercas)

  1. (Louisiana, Mexico) little child
    Synonyms: niño; escuincle (Mexico, colloquial)
  2. (literary) depressed man crying in the dark
  3. (literary) the Greco-Roman underworld
    Synonym: inframundo

Further reading