marimorena

Spanish edit

Etymology edit

The word dates back to 1579, and a bar owner's wife, called Maria Morena or Mari Morena, who refused to serve some customers any of the high-quality wine. A violent row ensued. (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /maɾimoˈɾena/ [ma.ɾi.moˈɾe.na]
Rhymes: -ena
Syllabification: ma‧ri‧mo‧re‧na

Noun edit

marimorena f (plural marimorenas)

(colloquial) fuss, row, ruckus (verbal fight)
Synonyms: alboroto, riña, pendencia, camorra
- 1859, Benito Pérez Galdós, chapter V, in Aita Tettauen:
  Probablemente, tras la campaña en África vendrían otras marimorenas con diferentes naciones europeas o asiáticas, y de este continuo pelear resultaría mucha, muchísima gloria y poco dinero, porque los brazos abandonaban la cosecha del trigo por la de laureles.
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes edit

Usually used in the phrase armarse la marimorena.