Quinqui

jargon Jargon is the specialized terminology associated with a particular field or area of activity. Jargon is normally employed in a particular communicative context and may not be well understood outside that context. The context is usually a partic ...

is associated with '' quincalleros'' (

tinker Tinker or tinkerer is an archaic term for an itinerant tinsmith who mends household utensils. Description ''Tinker'' for metal-worker is attested from the thirteenth century as ''tyckner'' or ''tinkler''. Some travelling groups and Roman ...

s), a semi-nomadic group who live mainly in the northern half of

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

. They prefer to be called ''mercheros''. They are reduced in number and possibly vanishing as a distinct group. The language is an old form of Castilian, '' Germanía'', with elements of Caló, a dialect of the Spanish

Roma Roma or ROMA may refer to: Places Australia * Roma, Queensland, a town ** Roma Airport ** Roma Courthouse ** Electoral district of Roma, defunct ** Town of Roma, defunct town, now part of the Maranoa Regional Council * Roma Street, Brisbane, a ...

. The term comes from the word ''quincallería'' (ironmongery), from

ironmonger Ironmongery originally referred, first, to the manufacture of iron goods and, second, to the place of sale of such items for domestic rather than industrial use. In both contexts, the term has expanded to include items made of steel, aluminiu ...

s who originated this

cant Cant, CANT, canting, or canted may refer to: Language * Cant (language), a secret language * Beurla Reagaird, a language of the Scottish Highland Travellers * Scottish Cant, a language of the Scottish Lowland Travellers * Shelta or the Cant, a lan ...

as part of their trade. Because the men were frequently blamed for petty crime, in modern

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: ** Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Ca ...

the word is associated with references to delinquent,

petty thief Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for so ...

, or hoodlum. The mercheros identify as a distinct group separate from the Roma ''

gitanos The Romani in Spain, generally known by the exonym () or the endonym ''Calé'', belong to the Iberian Cale Romani subgroup, with smaller populations in Portugal (known as ) and in Southern France. Their sense of identity and cohesion stems f ...

''. Scholars have many theories about the social origins of ''mercheros'', summarized as the following: *Descendants of mechanical workers who arrived in Spain from central Europe in the 16th century; *Descendants of peasants who lost their land in the 16th century; *Descendants of intermarriage between the Roma and non-Roma populations; * Descendants of Muslims who became nomads after the expulsion in the 15th century to escape persecution; and/or *A mixture of the above.

Notable mercheros

Eleuterio Sánchez Eleuterio Sánchez Rodríguez (born 15 April 1942), known as El Lute, was at one time listed as Spain's "Most Wanted" criminal and later became a published writer. He was a legendary Spanish outlaw who escaped several times from prison after be ...

, a.k.a. '' El Lute'' (born 1942). A petty thief in his early life, he was convicted of armed robbery and murder; after escaping from prison, he was listed as "The Most Wanted" by the Spanish police. Later he earned a law degree and wrote five books. He was pardoned at age 39.

References

Languages of Spain Spanish dialects of Spain Cant languages Modern nomads Occupational cryptolects {{Spanish-lang-stub

Notable mercheros

See also

References