carusu
Sicilian edit
Etymology edit
Disputed. Some have sustained a not well explained derivation from Ancient Greek κόρος (kóros, “boy”). More likely it derives from a vulgar readjectivized use of Latin cārus (“dear, beloved; expensive”), from caru (“dear, beloved”) + -usu (-ose, -ous), then substantivized.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
carusu m (plural carusi)
- young boy, child
- Synonyms: picciottu, picciriḍḍu, scugnizzu
- Synonym: cagnolu (derogatory)
- Vacci a leggiu cu iḍḍu: è ancora 'n carusu.
- Go easy on him: he is but a child.
- guy
- (now rare) A young worker.
- (historical, mid-1800s) an exploited boy, among 6-14 years approximately, used as a labourer in a sulfur, salt or potash mine, due to their ability to enter narrow shafts of mines.
- Synonym: scugnizzu
Synonyms edit
Antonyms edit
- (antonym(s) of “offspring”): patri, matri, ginituri
- (antonym(s) of “person below the age of adulthood”): adurtu