creole

creole · noun¹

1. Portuguesecrioulo
2. Spanishcriollo
3. Frenchcréole
4. EnglishCreole
5. English todaycreole

See Creole. Attested in English to refer to language from the 18th century.

Creole · noun, adjective, proper noun²

1. Portuguesecrioulo
2. Spanishcriollo
3. Frenchcréole
4. English todayCreole

Variously from French créole, from its source, Spanish criollo, and from its source, Portuguese crioulo, itself probably a diminutive of cria (“person raised in one’s house, servant”), from criar (“to rear, to bring up”), from Latin creō (“to create, make, produce”). Doublet of Criollo, Crioulo, and Krio.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. A descendant of European settlers who is born in a colonized country.
• from 18th c. Anyone with mixed ancestry born in a country colonized by Europeans, now especially one who speaks a creole language.
• from 18th c. Someone of African descent who is born in the Caribbean or Americas (originally as opposed to an African immigrant).
• from 18th c. Pertaining to or characteristic of someone who is a Creole.
• from 18th c. That is a Creole; especially, born in a colonized country different from that of his or her ancestors.
• from 18th c. Designating a creolized language.
• from 19th c. Prepared according to a cooking style developed in a Creole area, now especially that of Louisiana, characterised by a mixture of European and African influences.
• from 18th c. Any specific creole language, especially that of Haiti.