Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A rogue or adventurer.
  • noun The main character in a picaresque work when that character is a man or boy.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A rogue; a thief.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun rogue, adventurer

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Spanish pícaro, perhaps from picar, to prick, from Vulgar Latin *piccāre; see pique.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Spanish pícaro

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Examples

  • Since the root meaning of "picaro" is "rogue," if we were to demand of such a character that he/she be a model of propriety, we would be denying the picaresque form its motivating agency.

    Narrative Strategies 2009

  • The picaresque story -- derived from the term identifying the protagonist of such stories, the "picaro" -- was introduced by Spanish writers of the 16th and 17th centuries, and is essentially a journey narrative in which the picaro, usually a rogueish character, embarks on a journey in which, literally, one thing happens after another.

    Narrative Strategies 2009

  • He is a real "picaro" and would use it in a situation like ...

    Si Dios me permite...... 2009

  • He is a real "picaro" and would use it in a situation like ...

    Si Dios me permite...... 2009

  • He is a real "picaro" and would use it in a situation like ...

    Si Dios me permite...... 2009

  • He is a real "picaro" and would use it in a situation like ...

    Si Dios me permite...... 2009

  • He is a real "picaro" and would use it in a situation like ...

    Si Dios me permite...... 2009

  • He is a real "picaro" and would use it in a situation like ...

    Si Dios me permite...... 2009

  • He is a real "picaro" and would use it in a situation like ...

    Si Dios me permite...... 2009

  • He is a real "picaro" and would use it in a situation like ...

    Si Dios me permite...... 2009

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