spic

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spic

/ˈspɪk/

Rhymes with -ɪk

Where it comes from

First attested in this spelling in the 1910s, from earlier spig, spiggoty, spikity, generally taken to derive from a (stereotype of a) Hispanic pronunciation of "(no) speak d(e) English" (especially as used by the laborers who dug the Panama Canal). There are also later (1960s) suggestions that the term referred instead to Italians and derives from spaghetti, but there is little to back this up.

noun spics · spick · spik

US, derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur Synonym of Latino, an inhabitant of Latin America or person of Latin American descent.
Similar: spigotty, spiggoty, Latino
US, ethnic, slur, uncommon Synonym of Italian, an inhabitant of Italy or person of Italian descent. “He’s a spic” he said. He was frantic with jealousy, he didn’t want to be hurt again.
Similar: Italian

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MLA

"spic." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/spic. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

spic. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/spic

Chicago

"spic." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/spic.

BibTeX

@misc{spic_2026,
  title = {spic},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/spic},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}