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Gypsy Jan
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The Origins of Gringo?
Listening to the "Celtic Sojourn" program on WGBH Boston last Saturday, the host introduced the playing of a recording of "Green Grow the Laurel".
As part of his intro, he mentioned that there is a belief that the Irish soldiers in the Mexican-American war sang this very popular song a lot at
their camps. So much so, that the Mexican soldiers started referring to them as "Gringros", which over time became "Gringo".
The host then asked the audience if they had any confirmation or another explanation for the origin of this term.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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David K
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That is very close to the explanation given by Mike McMahan ('There it is: Baja!' c1973): >>>'It probably started in our War of 1846 as
American soldiers marched across the Rio Grande singing "Green Grow the Rushes, O"...'<<<
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tehag
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Gringo
The word was in use in Spain in early 19th century. Its entry in an 1817 French-Spanish dictionary, written by Antonio de Capmany, includes:
.. hablar en griego, en guirigay, en gringo. (p. 28) [4] Translation: ... to speak in Greek, in "guirigay", in "gringo".
Gringo, griego: aplícase a lo que se dice o escribe sin entenderse. (p. 448) [5] Translation--Gringo, Greek : applies to what is said or written
without understanding it.
Shakespeare (baptised 26 April 1564 – died 23 April 1616) also used Greek often to describe unintelligible language or ideas.
Other versions exist about the origin of gringo, but do any predate 1817?
Certainty is the child of ignorance, knowledge is the mother of doubt. Question everything!
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DENNIS
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It's just one of those things that nobody really knows.
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squid
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
It's just one of those things that nobody really knows. |
well, well, well, we Mexicans know.
It means: Green Go !
referring to the old uniforms of the Norte Americanos trying to occupy our land.
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vandenberg
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It's Greek to me !
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tehag
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Gringo
Squid:
US Army was still wearing blue at the time.
Certainty is the child of ignorance, knowledge is the mother of doubt. Question everything!
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by squid
well, well, well, we Mexicans know.
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No. You don't know. You just think you know but, you don't and what you think you know is nothing more than a guess just like all the other theorys.
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squid
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tehag
Squid:
US Army was still wearing blue at the time. |
That is correct and my knowledge about the color was mistaken.
Forgive a Non-Military Personal.
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DENNIS
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The song,"Green Grow The Lilacs" could possibly have been heard sung by men of the San Patricio Batallion, immigrants to the US from Ireland, who
deserted the US side to fight with the Mexican forces. The origen of the song is Ireland.
Just another published theory.
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Skipjack Joe
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The term is used throughout South America.
Are we sure it started in Mexico?
If your hair is light colored in South America they'll call you gringo.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Are we sure it started in Mexico?
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That's just it, Igor. We arn't sure of anything regarding the origen of the word. It's all guesswork. [is that one word?]
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Bajahowodd
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I guess work may be guesswork.
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tripledigitken
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I take this with a grain of salt.
from Wikipedia..................
Railroad construction in Chile
When William Wheelwright built the railroad from Caldera to Copiapo in Chile, the workers were trained to stop on red lights and to go on green
lights. But they did not understand English, so William would repeatedly say:
"Green - Go Green - Go Green - Go"
And therefore all they remembered was "Gringo" and began calling him that.
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Bajahowodd
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Rock Salt
Considering the (open) source.
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Gypsy Jan
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As the OP (Original Poster)
I guess I have a dog in this fight.
It must be an Irish Setter, since I am not a "Pointer".
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by tripledigitken
from Wikipedia..................
Railroad construction in Chile
When William Wheelwright built the railroad from Caldera to Copiapo in Chile, the workers were trained to stop on red lights and to go on green
lights. But they did not understand English, so William would repeatedly say:
"Green - Go Green - Go Green - Go"
And therefore all they remembered was "Gringo" and began calling him that. |
Remember Engineer Bill?
Red light...............Green light.
Aw shucks...that's just plain silly. What we really need to know is the origen of the word that goes with Gringo.
Where did the word "Peenche" come from?
[now, before all you spelling critics chastise me, the machine won't tolerate the correct spelling of that P-nche palabra]
[Edited on 10-19-2009 by DENNIS]
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tripledigitken
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Silly?..................I have three words for you DENNIS..........
Go....Green....Go!
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Bajahowodd
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Reader Alert
It's been quite academic so far, but folks should know that Sr. Dennis has a big problem with the use of the word gringo. Don't say I didn't ell
ya.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Don't say I didn't ell ya. |
I don't have time to get into that aspect of the word right now. I'm busy watching the Angels and Yankees. Then...the Chargers. Then....the inside
of my eyelids.
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