L. Winer
E. Aguilar
Spanish influence in the lexicon of Trinidadian English Creole
In: New West Indian Guide/ Nieuwe West-Indische Gids 65 (1991), no: 3/4, Leiden, 153-191
Appendix A: Spanish Lexicon in TEC, Flora
altamis /altamis/ 'Ambrosia cumanensis, a fragrant-leaved plant' < Sp. artemisa
(a fragrant medicinal plant) < Latin
angelin /anjalln / 'Andira inermis, a tree with pink flowers' < LAS angelin (a
leguminous tree) < Portuguese
agalie /agli, agali/ 'Ficus sp., a parasitic tree' < Sp. algalia 'musk hibiscus' <
Arabic
areca /areka/ 'Areca catechu, the betel nut palm' < Sp. (a palm) < Amer.
balata /balata/ 'Manilkara bidentata, tree with hard wood, edible fruit' < LAS
< Carib
bilimbi /bilimbi/ 'Averrhoa bilimbi, a plant bearing cucumber-shaped acidic
fruits' < Sp. bilimbin (a tree) < Philippines
bois toucan /bwa tuka/ 'Laetia procera, a tree' < LAS tucdn 'toucan' < Amer.
(Brazil)
bruca /bruka/ 'Cassia occidentalis, a tree, wild coffee' < LAS?
caimet /kaimet, kaimlt/ 'Chrysophyllum cainito, a tree bearing an edible fruit'
< LAS caimito (a tree, fruit) < Amer. (Taino)
172 USE WINER & EDITH LILY AGUILAR
cajou de burro (a tree) (obs.?) < cajou 'cashew' (Amer.) + Sp. de 'of + Sp.
burro 'donkey'
calderon (a tree) (obs.?) < LAS calderon (a plant) < Amer.?
callisia /kallzia/ (a plant) < LAS calisaya (a tree) < Amer. (Bolivia)
candero /kandero/ (a tree) < LAS candelon (a mangrove tree) < Amer. (Antilles,
Mexico)
carap /karap/ 'Carapa guianensis, a tree whose seed yields useful oil' < LAS
carapa (a plant) < Amer. (Galibi, Calina, Arauco)
carat /karat/ 'Copernicia sp., a palm tree used for thatching' < LAS carato (a
tree) < Amer.
carimo bianco (a tree) (obs.?) < carimo (Amer?) + Sp. bianco 'white'
chachamunchin, chanchamunchin /t/atjamutjln, tjantjamutjln/ 'Justicia secunda,
a plant' < LAS chinchamuchina (a Veneuelan plant) < Amer?
chiquito /tjlkito/ 'a type of very small banana' < Sp. chiquito 'small'
chirimoya /tjlrimoya/ (a tree and its fruit) < LAS chirimoya (a tree, fruit) <
Amer.
courba 'pumpkin' < LAS curbana (a shrub) < Amer. (?)
estralog ^Gurania spinulosa, a plant' < LAS estragon 'tarragon'
gamalot /gamibt/ 'Setaria poiretiana, a plant whose leaves repel water; also
Chaetochloa sulcata or C. palmifolia, a saw-edged grass' < LAS camalote
'water lily' < Amer.
gatia /gatia/ 'Astronium graveolens or Brosimum aubleti, leopard wood, a tree
with spotty, streaked wood' < LAS gateado 'cat-like'
granadilla /granadlla/ 'Passiflora quadrangularis, the passionflower and fruit'
< Sp. granadilla 'passionflower' < Latin
guatecare, guatacare, watercare /wataker, gwataker/ 'Eschweilera subglandulosa,
a tree' < LAS guatacare (a tree) < Amer. (Cumanan)
guava /guava/ 'Psidium guajava, a tree with edible fruit' < LAS guaba 'guava
fruit' < Amer. (Taino?)
guma, aguma /guma, aguma/ 'Solanum nigrum americanum, a plant' < Sp.
gumamela (a plant) < Philippines
jagua "Melicocca bijuga, chenette, a tree with edible fruit' (obs?) < LAS jagua
(a tree) < Amer.
kalenda /kalenda/ 'Trimezia martinicensis, a plant' < Sp. calenda 'first day of
month' < Latin
kambut 'Paspalum conjugatum, a plant' < Sp. cambuto 'small, chubby' cf.
cambutera (a wild liane) (Cuba)
kayakeet /kayakit/ 'Lantana camara, a shrub with yellow-pink-orange flowers'
< LAS cariaquito (a bush) < Amer. (Cumanagotan)
SPANISH INFLUENCE IN TRINIDAD ENGLISH CREOLE 173
kerekel /kerekel/ (a palm tree and its edible fruits; also possibly inedible
undeveloped seeds of normally edible piwa palm fruits) < LAS quelenquelen
(a plant) < Amer. (Araucanian)
lattan /latan/ 'Desmoncus major, a climbing palm' < LAS latania (a palm) <
Amer.
lian-tasso /lian taso/ 'Bauhinia excisa, a plant' < Sp. liana 'liana, vine' +
Sp.tasajo 'dry salt meat'
malanga /malanga/ (a type of tuber) < LAS malanga (a tuber) < African (Zaire-
Zimbabwe?)
mamoo /mamu/ 'Carludovica sp., a vine used in basketry' < LAS mamure (a
liana) < Amer. (Tamanacan)
manac /manak/'Euterpe broadwayana, a palm tree' < LAS manaque/manak (an
Orinoco palm) < Amer.
mapurit /mapuwit, mapurit/ 'Petivaria alliacea, gully root, a plant' < LAS
mapurite (a plant) < Amer. (Carib, Cumanagotan, Yabarama, Beyote)
marakee 'Crotalaria incana, C. maraca, or C. retusa, a plant with leguminous
pods which rattle when dry' < LAS maraquito (a bush) < ? + Sp. -ito
(diminutive)
Maraval lily /maraval/ 'Spathiphyllum cannifolium, a plant with a white flower'
< LAS maravilla (creeping plants) probably < Maraval, area near Port of
Spain < maravilla + -al 'having many such plants'
marouba /maruba/ 'Simarouba amara, a tree' < Sp. marrubio (a mint) < Latin
mataburro /mataburo/ 'mankiller fig, a type of banana believed to be lethal if
not properly cooked' < LAS < Sp matar 'kill' + Sp. burro 'donkey'
matapal, matapalo /matapal, matapalo/ 'Clusia rosea or C. palmacida, a
strangling tree' < LAS matapalo < Sp. matar 'kill' + Sp. palo 'tree'
matrang 'Hyptis suaveolons, a plant' < Sp. mastranto (a plant) < Latin
mauby /mobi/ 'Colubrina reclinata, a tree whose bark is used in a beverage' <
LAS mobi < Amer.
melongene, balangene /mebnjen/ ''Solarium melongena, the eggplant or
aubergine' < Sp. berengena 'eggplant'
moriche /moritf/ ''Mauritia setigera or M. flexuosa, a palm.' < LAS moriche (a
tree) < Amer.
orosul 'Matelea viridiflora, a vine' < Sp. orozuz (a plant) < Arabic
palma christi /pama krlsti/ "Ricinus communis, the castor oil tree' < Sp. palma
cristi 'castor oil tree' < Latin
patacon 'Cissampelas pareira, a vine with kidney-shaped leaves' < Sp. patacon
(a silver coin, often having a wedge cut out) < Arabic
pawpaw /popo/ 'Carica papaya, a tree with edible fruit' < LAS papayo
'papaya' < Amer
174 LISE WINER & EDITH LILY AGUILAR
pimento /pimento/ 'Pimenta dioica, the allspice tree' < Sp. pimiento (a pepper
plant) < Latin
pitanga /pltanga/ "Eugenia uniflora, a tree with edible fruit' < LAS pitanga (a
tree, fruit) < Amer.
piwa /piwa/ 'Bactris gasipaes, a palm tree with edible fruits' < LAS < Amer.
pomelo /pomelo/ (a citrus fruit) < Sp. pomelo 'grapefruit' < Latin
rayo /rayo/ 'Cordyline terminalis, a plant with striped leaves' < Sp. rayo 'ray,
beam, flash' < Latin
refriyau 'Dorstenia contrajerva, a plant' < Sp. resfriado 'cold, illness' < raiz de
resfriado 'root for [treating] colds'
reidemat 'Aristolochia rugosa, a vine' < Sp. raiz 'root' + Sp. de 'of + mata (a
plant) < Latin
roble /robal/ 'Platymiscium trinitatis, a tree' < Sp. roble 'oak' < Latin
samaan /saman/ 'Pithecellobium saman, a tree' LAS saman 'samaan tree' <
Amer.
santa maria /santa maria/ 'Lantana involucrata, a plant used medicinally' < Sp.
santa 'saint' + Sp. Maria 'Mary'
sapodilla, /sapodlla/ sapotee /sapoti/ 'Achras sapota, a tree with edible fruit' <
LAS zapotillo < 'zapote < Nahuatl tzapotV. + Sp. -Mo (diminutive)' (a tree
and fruit)
siriyo /sirio/ 'Sambucus intermeda, a plant' < Sp. cirio 'long candle' < Latin
tapia /tapia/ 'Sprorbolus indicus, a grass used in mud-wall construction' < Sp.
'earth bricks' < Latin/Arabic
tekoe 'a type of tuber' < LAS tegue 'a type of tuber'(Venezuela)
tonca, tonka /tonka/ 'Dipteryx odorata, a tree with a very fragrant seed' < LAS
tonca < Amer.
topatop /topatop/ 'Physalis angulata, a plant with top-shaped fruit' < Sp.
topotopo (a plant) < Amer.
tural /rural/, turada /turada/, tulala /tulala/, "Sanseveria thyrsiflora, a plant with
long narrow thick leaves' < LAS turada, tura (a plant) < Amer.
waku 'Mikania micrantha, a vine' < LAS guaco (a plant) < Amer.
warakarajo (a plant) < LAS guaracaro (a plant) < Amer.
zeecack /zikak, zikaks/ (Chrysobalanus icaco, a shrub with edible purple fruit)
< LAS [hjicaco 'coco plum' < Amer. (Taino, Cumananan or Arawak ikaku
Appendix C: Spanish Lexicon in TEC, General
adult 'to forgive, atone' < Sp. indultar 'to forgive, exempt' < Latin
agua 'a nut handed over by the winner to the loser, to enable a game to restart,
in blochay' (arch.) < LAS agua 'money' (Peru)
aguinaldo /aguinaldo/ 'a type of Spanish Christmas carol' < Sp.
ahwo /awo/ 'a friendly greeting, usually to someone some distance away' < Sp.
aho 'call used to hail someone'
albacea dativo 'court-appointed executor of a will' (hist.) Sp. albacea dativo
'court-appointed executor'
alcalde /alkalde/ 'magistrate, councillor' (hist.) < Sp. alcalde 'magistrate'
alcalde de barrio 'type of magistrate' (hist.) < Sp. alcalde de barrio 'justice of
the peace for a ward'
alguazil /algwazll/ 'police constable, officer' (hist.) < Sp. alguacil 'constable,
police officer' < Arabic
almide 'a unit of liquid measure, about a gallon' (obs.) < Sp. medir 'to measure'
alpagat /alpagat/, alpagata /alpagata/ 'a flat leather or rubber-soled sandal with
woven top' < Sp. alpargata 'hemp sandal tied with ribbons'
annisao /anisao/ 'an anise-flavored rum drink' < Sp. annisado 'flavored with
anise'
arepa /arepa/ 'a fried triangular patty of corn meal with a meat filling' < LAS
arepa 'circular bread, us. cornmeal' < Amer.
aroba, arroba 'a measure of weight, 25 lbs.' (obs.) < Sp. arroba '25 pound
measure'
avena 'a fermented corn beverage' < Sp. ? avena 'oats'
ayayay /aiaiai/ 'exclamation of indignation, distress, surprise or pleasure' < Sp.
ayayay 'expression usually of worry, pain'
ayo /ayo/ 'of a kite, to fly away after the string is broken' < Sp. adios 'goodbye'
SPANISH INFLUENCE IN TRINIDAD ENGLISH CREOLE 179
ayo panch /ayo pant// 'an exclamation describing someone's speedy disappearance'
< Sp. ayo < adios 'goodbye' + Sp. pancho 'lazy stupid person'
azil /azil/ 'a slow-moving, short-beaked, fighting cock or hen with a very broad,
heavy, stocky body, usually black-red feathers, with great endurance and
stamina' < Sp. < ?Eng. < ?India idem.
bacaday /bakade/ 'a loading wharf, especially one particular area in San
Fernando' < Sp. embarcaderojFi. embarcadere 'loading wharf'
bacalao /bakalao/ 'salted dried codfish' < Sp./Ptg. bacalao 'salted codfish'
bacchanal /bakanal/ 'a wild party or fete; disorder' < Sp. bacanal 'orgy,
disorder, tumult'
bagasse /bagas/ 'residue of sugar cane after juice is pressed out' < Sp. bagazo
/Fr. bagasse 'residue of things squeezed for juice'
bandol /bandol/, bandola /bandola/ 'a tenor instrument with four double strings
and a flat back' < Sp. bandolin 'an instrument with four double strings and
a rounded back'
barriga de vieja 'type of cassava pudding' < Sp. barriga 'belly' + de 'of +
vieja 'old woman'
batallando /batayando/ 'struggling' (said in reply to greeting enquiring how you
are) < Sp. batallar 'to fight, struggle in life'
bebeiz /bebeiz/, bebediso /bebediso/, 'a medicinal drink given to women after
childbirth' < Sp. bebedizo 'medicinal drink, love potion'
bich /bit// 'a dysenteric disease of poultry' < Sp. bicho 'fowl cholera'
bisquankay /blskwanke/ 'describing something twisted or falling apart, or an
awkward, clumsy person' < Sp. (Aragon) bizcuerno-a 'person with cross-eyes
or twisted limbs'
blochay 'a game played with nuts thrown in a hole in the ground' < ? LAS
brocha 'a game'
boca /boka/ 'sea channel between the islands off the northwest peninsula of
Trinidad' < Sp. boca 'entrance, exit, mouth, inlet' < Latin
bolee /boli/ 'a calabash hollowed out as a water container' < LAS bob 'tender
calabash' < Amer.
bob /bolo/ 'an underhand punch' < Sp. bollo 'punch, hit'
botuella de compuesta /botwela de compwesta/ 'a mixture of herbs steeped in
alcohol used as an antidote for snake or scorpion bites' < Sp. botella + de +
compuesta 'bottle of compound, mixture'
boy /boi/, boyo /boyo/ 'a steamed cornmeal dumpling, oval with pointed ends,
hollow inside' < Sp. bollo 'spongy dough dumpling' < ? kiKongo mbolo
'cake'
bucha sangray /but/a sangre/ 'in cockfighting, a wound in the bird's neck, with
bleeding inside, resulting in swelling, choking and death' < S buche (d)e
sangre idem. (Sp. buche 'crop, mouthful' + sangre 'blood')
180 LISE WINER & EDITH LILY AGUILAR
burrokeet /burokit/ 'a carnival masquerade which appears to be a donkey and
its rider' < Sp. burriquito 'little donkey'
bukara /bukara/ 'a red clay used for pottery' < Sp. bucaro 'clay' < Latin
bottle /batal/ 'a measure, usually liquid, about a quart' < Sp. botella/Eng. bottle
'bottle, liquid measure about a quart'
cabecera /kabesera/ 'headland, vantage point, high point of land' (arch.) < LAS
cabez /kabez/, cabesa /kabesa/ 'cleverness, smartness' < Sp. cabeza 'head,
brains, judgement'
cabresse /kobwes/ 'person of mixed Indian and Spanish ancestry, sometimes
with some African' < LAS cabres/caberres 'Indians from Colombia and
Venezuela'
cabildo /kablldo/ 'municipal council' (hist.) < LAS cabildo 'ecclesiastic body,
town council' < Amer.? or Latin capitulu(m)
cacique /kasik/ 'Indian leader' (hist.) 'village headman' (hist.) < LAS cacique
'provincial or Indian chieftain' < Amer.
cachap /katfap/ 'cornmeal dumpling' < LAS cachapa 'corn muffin' < Amer.
canabai 'a fighting cock or hen with a white neck and tail, brown chest, and
half wing white' < Sp. canaguay 'white colour on the wing of any fowl')
canaree /kanari/ 'a large earthernware jar used for storing or cooking food' <
LAS canari 'earthenware jar' < Carib
canoe /kanoe/ 'a fighting cock or hen with white feathers above, brown or black
on the mid-body, and white underneath' < Sp. cano 'white-haired, white';
?Sp. canoco 'pale')
canook, conuco 'a cultivated plot of land' (obs.) < LAS conuco 'cultivated plot
of land' < Amer. (Taino)
capiche /kapitf/, capriche /kapritf/ 'a superstitious act which brings good luck,
especially in gambling' < Sp. capricho 'whim, by good luck'
caradol, cariadol /karadol, kariadol/ 'a lower quality fighting cock used as a
sparring partner for training or practice' < LAS careador 'fighting cock
handler'
cariadol see caradol
casa /kasa/ 'owner/manager of a gambling house' < Sp. casa 'owner of
gambling house' casa real 'residence of the corregidor' (hist.) < Sp. casa real
'royal palace'
castillan /kastiya, kastiyan/ 'a waltz' < Sp. castellano 'from Castile' or
castellana 'type of verse'
chinchora 'hammock' < LAS chinchorro < Amer?
chupon /t/upd/ 'a secondary shoot or sucker on a tree' < Sp.
chuponeer /tfuponir/ 'to prune, remove excess shoots from a tree' < Sp. chupon
'sucker of a tree' + -ir (verb)
SPANISH INFLUENCE IN TRINIDAD ENGLISH CREOLE 181
clear /klia/ 'light colour complexion' < Eng. clear + Sp. claro 'light complexion'
cocal /kokal/ 'a stretch of coconut palms along the east coast of Trinidad' <
LAS cocal 'place planted with coconut trees' < coco 'coconut' + Sp. -al
(place full of a plant) coco /koko/ 'a butt with the head' < Sp. coco 'head,
skull'
comfetti 'sweet candied fruit peel' < Sp. confite 'round sweets' / Fr. confit
'candied fruit'
comai /komai/ 'godmother to one's child' < Sp. comadrefPt. comere 'godmother
to one's child'
compai /kompai/ < Sp. compadre/Fr. compere 'godfather to one's child'
concurso 'official assembly' (hist.) < Sp. concurso 'assembly, gathering'
contraveneno 'antidote to snakebite' < Sp. contraveneno 'antidote'
conuquero 'small farmer, person who cultivates a small amount of land' (obs.,
hist.) < LAS conuquero 'conuco worker or owner' < Amer. conuco + Sp. -ero
'person who does'
corregidor 'Spanish colonial governor' (hist.) < Sp. corregidor 'colonial
governor of Indians'
crazau /krezau/ 'scatterbrained' < Eng crazy + Sp -au < -ado (participial
adjective)
Creole /kriol/ 'born in Trinidad, local' < Sp. criollo 'born in the Americas'
cuatro /kwatro/ 'a small 4-stringed guitar' < LAS (Venezuela)
cubrada /kubrada/ 'gully, ravine' < Sp. quebrada 'ravine, gorge'
cuscuma /kuskuma/ 'unattractive' < ? Sp. cusma 'Indian garment' < Amer.
debaray /debare/, debariar /debariar/ 'to do light pruning, especially of cocoa
trees' < Sp. desvastigar 'prune'
decima /desima/ 'type of verbal song duel' < Sp. decima 'type of verse' < Latin
depunta /depUnta/ 'to remove tips of branches to balance a young tree' < Sp.
despuntar 'remove a tip'
do /du/ 'harm' < Eng. do, often translation of hacer' + 'do something to
someone' + Sp. hacer 'do someone [harm]'
don /dan/ 'a fighting cock or hen with grey feathers underneath and on wings,
a light brown nape (back of the neck), and dark brown or red on back' < Sp.?
douen /dwen/ 'the spirit of a child who has died unbaptized, and who lures
children away to play' < Sp. duende 'haunting spirit causing confusion'
escribano /eskribano/ 'court clerk' (hist.) < Sp. escribano 'court clerk, notary'
< Latin
estabone 'measure of about 110 inches, just over 9 feet' (hist.) < Sp.
estribillo 'type of parang song in which stanzas of verse are followed by same
refrain' < Sp. 'refrain, chorus, theme'
estadal /estadal/ 'a land measure, 100 square varas' < Sp.
182 USE WINER & EDITH LILY AGUILAR
fandang /fandang/ 'a type of dance' < Sp. fandango 'a type of dance'
faneg /faneg/, fanega /fanega/ 'a measure of weight, about 110 lbs., especially
for cocoa and coffee' < Sp. fanega
faneg /faneg/, fanega /fanega/ 'a measure of land, 2 quarees, 6.9 acres' (hist.)
< Sp. fanega 'measure of area, about 6.5 acres, the area needed to sow a
fanega of seed' < Arabic
faneja /faneha/ 'a liquid measure, about 8 gallons' (obs.) < Sp. fanega 'measure
of capacity' < Arabic?
faramayel 'to show off, make style' < Sp. faramallero
francomen /frankomen/ 'frankly, honestly' < Sp. francamente 'frankly'
fuma /fuma/ 'smoke used to destroy ant-nests' < Sp. fumar 'to smoke'
galeron 'a type of song' < LAS 'type of popular song, to which people dance
and sing verses' < Sp ganancias 'property rights of a married woman' (hist.)
< Sp.
gancia /gansia/ 'cheap wine; vermouth' < Sp. Gancia 'a brand of vermouth'
garapacha /garapatfa/ 'type of fish trap' < LAS < Amer.
gayal /gayal, gayel/ 'fighting cock ring, stickfighting ring' < Sp. gallera
'cockpit'
gayap /gayap/ 'cooperative work group' < LAS cayapa 'work cooperative' <
Amer. (Cumanagotan)
gay in, gay en /gay in, gay en/ 'a fighting cock of any colour, with all the tail
feathers short and the same length, the cock thus resembling a hen' < Sp.
gayia < gallina 'hen'
gullet /golet, gAlet/ 'a hooked knife, usually on a pole, used to cut down cocoa
pods' < FC golete/Sp. goleta
goubby /gubi/ 'a hollow gourd with lianes plaited around it, used to carry
liquids' < Sp. gubilete 'metal cup'
hato 'a stock farm' (obs.) < Sp. hato 'livestock farm, ranch'
have belly 'have courage, be brave' < Sp. tener estomago 'able to bear, brave'
(possible influence from Fr. avoir de I'estomac 'show boldness, audacity', and
from Eng. meaning of 'show spirit, courage, bravery' obsolete since c. 1660s
in standard Eng.)
have head 'clever, tricky' < Eng. caique of Sp. tener cabeza 'to be clever'
have years (indicating age) < Eng. caique of Sp. tener anosfFr. avoir ans 'to
have years' (age), e.g., "I have fourteen years."
ingenios 'sugar cane estate' (hist.) < Sp. ingenio de azucdr 'sugar mill or
plantation'
jefe /hefe/ 'important person, big shot' < Sp. jefe 'chief, boss, leader, superior'
jefe civil /hefe sivil/ 'important person in town/country' < Sp. jefe 'chief, boss,
leader' + Sp. civil 'municipal'
jorop /horop/, joropo /horopo/ 'a dance' < Sp. joropo 'a dance' (Venezuela)
SPANISH INFLUENCE IN TRINIDAD ENGLISH CREOLE 183
koskel /koskel/ 'in garish bad taste, loud mismatched colours' < Sp. cosquillas
'tickling' lagoon /lagun/ 'a small temporary pond from rainfall', 'a stream
emptying into the sea' < Sp. laguna 'pond' < Latin
laniappe /lanyap/ 'extra bit given free by vendor to customer' < LAS la napa
'bonus' < Amer. (Quechua)
latro /latro/, lastro /lastro/ 'low forest, especially previously cultivated fields
overtaken by bush' < Sp. rastrojo 'harvested field'
loraison /bzrezo/ 'healing prayer' < Sp. las oraciones 'prayers'
lorito /brito/ 'pet name for a parrot' < Sp. 'little parrot'
macha palante /mat/a palante/, macha palanto /mat/a palanto/ 'walk quickly' <
Sp. marcha para adelante 'walk ahead, forward'
maga /maga, moga/ 'thin' < Sp. magro-afFi. maigre 'thin'< Latin
make cold 'to be cold' (of the weather) < Eng. caique of Sp. hacer tiempo
friofFr. faire froid
make hot 'to be warm, hot' (of the weather) < Eng. caique of Sp. hacer tiempo
calorfFi. faire chaud
make pacotee /pakoti/ 'to have a good time, to spree; to have illicit sexual
activity' < Sp. pacotilla 'a group of people having a good time' (often lower
class) (/Fr.? see also pacotee)
maljo /maljo/ 'evil eye' < Sp. mal de ojo 'evil eye'
mamaguy /mamagai/ 'tease, fool, flatter' < Sp. mamar gallo 'to make a monkey
of, mock, pull leg'
mandolin /mandolin/ 'pear-shaped musical instrument with a flat back, four
double strings' < Sp.
mano mano /mano mano/, manos manos /manos manos/ 'carried out between
two people without outside involvement, e.g. argument, bet, or conflict' < Sp.
mano a mano lit. 'hand to hand'
manojos 'a measure of tobacco, 5 lbs.' (arch.) < Sp. manojo 'handful'
manzanares /manzanares/ 'a type of song' < LAS 'songs celebrating the
Manzanares River in Cumana, Venezuela' < river in Spain
mariko /mariko/, maricon /mariko/ 'a homosexual man' < Sp. maricon
'effeminate man'
massamorja de maiz 'a type of corn pudding' < LAS
matador /matador/ 1. 'carnival masquerade of bullfighter'; 2. 'woman who is
aggressive, stylish, independent' < Sp. 'bullfighter'
monton, montone 'an earth mound used to plant crops' (obs.) < Sp. monton
'mound of soil constructed for the planting of tubers, improve soil drainage,
or provide sufficient humus'
nature 'sexual drive, desire' < Eng. caique of Sp. natura 'genitals'/naturaleza
'sexual desire' < Latin
184 LISE WINER & EDITH LILY AGUILAR
pacotee pack-o '-tea /pakoti/ 1. 'worthless thing, thing of little value'; 2. 'a loose
or promiscuous woman' < Sp. pacotillafFr. pacotille 'inferior goods' also Sp.
pacotilla 'a group of people having a good time' (often lower class)
palang /palang/ 'a long fishing line with hooks attached at intervals' < Sp.
palangre
pallet /palet/ 'a long wooden stick with a flat end used to move bread in an
oven, or a flat wooden stick used to turn flat bread' < Sp. paleta 'fire shovel,
poker, spatula'/Eng. pallet 'long, thin, wooden board'
panyol, payol /payol/ 'a Trinidadian of Spanish descent; a Venezuelan' < Sp.
espanol 'Spanish'
papelon 'a conical loaf of dark brown sugar, usually wrapped in banana leaves'
(obs.) < LAS papelon 'conical mold of raw sugar' < Sp papel 'paper'
parandera /parandera/, parandero /parandero/ 'female, male parang singer' <
Sp. parrandero-a 'person on spree, usually playing music'
parang /parang/ 'music played at Christmastime, usually by people going from
house to house' < Sp. parranda 'serenading, going out and singing'
paseo 'a dance' < LAS pasillo 'a popular folkloric type of song and dance' <
? Sp. paseo 'stroll'
paso 'pace, unit of measure about 55 inches' (hist.) < Sp.
pastel /pastel/ 'a dish made of a commeal crust and spicy meat filling' < Sp.
pastel 'sweet or meat-stuffed commeal crust' < Fr. < Latin
pavil 'a torch made of cloth soaked in beeswax' < LAS < ?
peon , piong /piorj/ 1. 'person of Spanish descent who immigrated to work in
Trinidad'; 2. 'aficionado, ardent fan' < Sp. peon 'labourer'
picadol /pikadol/ 'a knife with short handle and blade used to crack open cocoa
pods' < Sp. picador 'person who sticks bulls with short spear'
picong /pikorj/ 'teasing, ritualized ridicule' < Sp. picon 'trick, joke, ridicule'
pint /pint/ 'a fighting cock or hen with white and black, white and red, or silver
and white feathers' < Sp. pinta 'spot, mark dot', pintao < Sp. pintado
'spotted, dotted, mottled, speckled'
planasse /planas/ 'a blow with the flat side of a cutlass' < Sp. plana 'flat' + azo
'hit'
pocapoc /pokapok/ 'slowly, little by little' < Sp. poco a poco 'little by little,
slowly'
poncha creme, poncha crema /pAntfa krem, pAntJa krema, pantja krim/ 'a drink
made of rum, milk, sugar and spices' < Sp. ponche 'rum drink' < + Sp.
crema 'cream'
poposeet flute /poposit/ 'a small vertical flute' < Sp.? + Eng. 'flute'
poyo /poyo/ 'young inexperienced fighting cock which hasn't yet fought battles'
< Sp. polio 'chicken, young chicken'
procurador 'town clerk?' (hist.) < Sp. 'lawyer/solicitor, town clerk or treasurer'
SPANISH INFLUENCE IN TRINIDAD ENGLISH CREOLE 185
procurador syndic [govt. or legal official] (hist.) < Sp. procurador sindico
'village representative on a council'
pooch /put// 'buttocks' < ? Sp. pucho 'tip or butt, e.g., cigar'
pueblo 'Indian mission station' (hist.) < Sp. 'town, village'
pulgada 'inch' (hist.) < Sp.
quarilla 'a dry measure' (obs.) < Sp. ?
quintal 'a measure of 100 lbs.' (obs.) < Sp. quintal 'weight measure'
rachifee /ratjlfi/ 'cheating, corruption, trickery' < ? Sp. racha 'brief period of
good luck in gambling' [or Eng. retrofit 'to force something to fit, to use
something not originally designed for the task']
raff /raf, ra:f/ 'to steal by snatching or grabbing; quick snatch, grab' < Sp.
rafaga 'gust of wind, blast'/Fr. rqfler 'to sweep away, snatch away'
ranch /rant// 'a small wooden house or shelter' < Sp. rancho 'shanty, humble
thatched house'
rat /rat/ 'promiscuous woman, prostitute' < Sp. rata 'woman of the moment' +
Eng. rat
rebucan 'a smaller, second harvest of cocoa pods' < Sp. rebuscar 'look for
again, glean' regidor 'town councillor' (hist.) < Sp. regidor 'councillor
attached to a cabildo'
roundeer /raundir/ 'to clean the area around a tree of weeds' < Eng. round + Sp.
-ir (verb) or ? Sp. rondar 'to go around'
sabana blanca 'a type of song' < Sp. ? 'white sheet, altar cloth'
sambo /sambo/ 'offspring of a mulatto and a Negro' < Sp. zambo 'offspring of
an Indian and a Negro' [< African?]
sancoch, sancoche /sankot// sancocho /sankot/o/ 'a stew made with meat and
root vegetables' < LAS sancocho 'a stew'
sangaree 'a drink made with wine' < Sp. sangria 'wine and fruit drink'
santiwa /santiwa/ 'to heal by special prayers' < Sp. santiguar 'to heal by prayer'
< Latin
sapat /sapat/ 'a sandal with a wooden sole and rubber or leather strap across the
front of the foot' < Sp. zapato 'shoe' < Turkish
savanna /savana/ 'wide treeless plain' < Sp. sabana 'wide treeless plain' <
Amer. (Carib)
sebucan /sebuka/ 1. 'woven basket used as cassava squeezer'; 2. 'a Maypoletype
dance which resembles this weaving' < LAS sebucan 'cassava squeezer'
< Amer.
serenal /serenal/ 'type of parang song' < Sp. serenata 'serenade, or music for
this'
shac-shac /Jak /ak/ 'rattle' < LAS shac-shac 'sound of maracas' < Amer.
tache 'large shallow sugar evaporating pan' < LAS tacho 'large shallow sugar
evaporating pan'
186 LISE WINER & EDITH LILY AGUILAR
tapia /tapia/ 'mud and grass wall construction' < Sp. tapia 'earth bricks' <
Latin/Arabic tassa salay /tasa sale/ 'dried salt beef (arch.) < Sp. tasajo 'dry
smoked meat' + Sp. saladoftmoit probably) Fr. sake 'salted'
tasso /taso/ 'dried salt beef (arch.) < Sp. tasajo 'dry smoked meat' < Portuguese
taxador 'public assessor' (hist.) < Sp. tasador 'public assessor'
terital 'place with many terite/tirite canes, Ischnosiphon aroumd1 < LAS < terite
Amer. + Sp. -al (place full of a plant)
timital 'place with many timite palms, Manicaria saccifera' < Amer. timite +
Sp. -al (place full of a plant)
tiple 'small treble metal-stringed instrument' < Sp.
trabesau /trabesau/ 'person of mixed racial descent' < Sp. atravesado 'mulatto,
mixed race'
trapich, trapitch /trapitf/ 'a type of hand-operated sugar cane mill' < Sp.
trapiche
tumbau /tumbau/ 'in cockfighting, an injury in which one cock's spur touches
a nerve in the wounded cock's leg, resulting in an inability to stand,
sometimes permanent' < Sp. tumbado 'knocked down, stunned, overcome,
thrown down, keeled over'
vara /vara/ 'linear measure of about 33 inches'; 'area of land equal to about 3-5
acres' < Sp. (some variations in exact length) < Latin
vega /vega/ 'river valley or hollow' < Sp. 'fertile lowland'
Velorio de Cruz /velorio de kruz/ 'Cross wake' < Sp.
wabeen /wabin/ 'promiscuous woman, common, of loose morals' < wabeen,
guabine 'Rivulus hartii, a small common freshwater fish, often found in
drains' < LAS < Amer.
warap /warap/ 'a type of parang song with a fast beat' < LAS
warap /warap/ 'sugar-cane juice' LAS < guarapo < Quechua huarapu
wepa /wepa/ 'an exclamation' < Sp. epa 'to cheer up, animate'
wires, guaya, guayaguayare, guayare 'a wicker basket carried on the back'
(obs.) < LAS guayare < Amer.
