Meanings
marrano1
Marrano2
plural Marranos · alternative marrano
- JudaismhistoricalAny of the Sephardi Jews who stayed in Iberia during the Spanish Inquisition, and continued to practice Judaism in secret.
In the Portuguese universities, the Marranos had studied logic, physics, medicine and mathematics, but they had no expertise in the more intuitive disciplines of Jewish practice.
1999, Karen Armstrong, The Case for God, Vintage, published 2010, page 1611 more example
Look at the Crypto-Jews, the Marranos, who for centuries lived a double life, outwardly Christians, but handing down secretly from generation to generation the faith, the traditions, the observances of Judaism.
1914, Israel Zangwill, Children of the Ghetto: A Study of a Peculiar PeopleSynonyms: converso, crypto-Jew
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAny of the Sephardi Jews who stayed in Iberia during the Spanish Inquisition, and continued to practice Judaism in secret.
Origin
- Spanishmarrano
- EnglishMarrano
From Spanish marrano, of disputed origin. Perhaps a transferred use of marrano (“hog”), but many sources regard them as distinct words. Doublet of Muharram.
More words from Spanish
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan marrà
- marràIberian Jew who practised Judaism in secret
French marrane
- marraneIberian Jew who practised Judaism in secret
Hebrew אָנוּס
- אָנוּס (anus)Iberian Jew who practised Judaism in secret
Portuguese marrano
- marranoIberian Jew who practised Judaism in secret
Spanish marrano
- marranoIberian Jew who practised Judaism in secret
Cite this entry
marrano. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/marrano
“marrano.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/marrano. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “marrano,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/marrano.
Source: marrano on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.