noun pl. ghettos -·tos or ghettoes -·toes

1. in certain European cities, a section to which Jews were formerly restricted
2. any section of a city in which many members of some minority group live, or to which they are restricted as by economic pressure or social discrimination

Etymology: It, lit., foundry (< gettare, to pour < VL *jectare, for L jactare, to throw, cast), name of a quarter in Venice occupied by Jews, orig. location of a cannon foundry