carusu

Sicilian

Alternative forms

caru' (apocope, collective vocative)

Etymology

Disputed. Some have sustained a not well explained derivation from Ancient Greek κόρος (kóros, “boy”). More likely it derives from a vulgar readjectivized use of Latin cārus (“dear, beloved; expensive”), from caru (“dear, beloved”) +‎ -usu (-ose, -ous), then substantivized. If this latter is right, compare Irish cara and English whore for similar developments.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /kaˈɾusʊ/
Hyphenation: ca‧rù‧su

Noun

carusu m (plural carusi)

young boy, child
Synonyms: picciottu, picciriḍḍu, scugnizzu

Synonym: cagnolu (derogatory)

Vacci a leggiu cu iḍḍu: è ancora 'n carusu.
Go easy on him: he is but a child.
guy
Synonyms: cristianu, picciottu, pirsuna, tipu, tìzziu
(now rare) A young worker.
Synonyms: garzuni, jarzuni, picciottu
(historical, mid-1800s) an exploited boy, among 6-14 years approximately, used as a labourer in a sulfur, salt or potash mine, due to their ability to enter narrow shafts of mines.
Synonym: scugnizzu

Synonyms

(young person): See figghiu & carusa
(offspring): See figghiu and figghia

Antonyms

(antonym(s) of “offspring”): patri, matri, ginituri
(antonym(s) of “person below the age of adulthood”): adurtu

Derived terms

Related terms

Descendants

→ Italian: caruso, Caruso