sciuscià
Italian edit
Etymology edit
A borrowing from English shoeshine, used by poor Neapolitan children—at the time of the US occupation of Naples during World War II—to advertise their services as shoeshiners on the streets. The word was popularized through the 1946 movie Sciuscià, directed by Vittorio De Sica.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
sciuscià m (invariable)
Neapolitan edit
Etymology 1 edit
Verb edit
sciuscià
- Alternative spelling of sciosciare (“to blow”)
Etymology 2 edit
Borrowed from English shoeshine.
Noun edit
sciuscià m (uncountable)