sciuscià

Italian

Etymology

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

• IPA^(key): ^*/ʃuʃˈʃa/^*
• Rhymes: -a
• Hyphenation: sciu‧scià

Noun

sciuscià m (invariable)

1. shoeshine
2. shoeblack / bootblack (person)

Neapolitan

Etymology 1

Verb

sciuscià

1. Alternative spelling of sciosciare (“to blow”)

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English shoeshine.

Noun

sciuscià m (uncountable)

1. shoeshine
2. shoeblack / bootblack (person)