Marranos

Variant of Marrano

Marrano definition

Mar·rano (mə rä′nō)

noun pl. Marranos -·nos

during the Spanish Inquisition, a Jew who professed Christianity to escape death or persecution, often continuing to observe Judaism secretly

Etymology: Sp, lit., swine (expression of contempt) < Ar muḥarram, forbidden thing

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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