This week's theme: slang/informal terms.

paisano (py-SAH-no) noun

   1. A pal, buddy.

   2. A fellow countryman; a compatriot.

[From Spanish paisano, from French paysan, from Latin pagus (district).
Ultimately from the Indo-European root pag- (to fasten) that is also
the source of peace, pacify, pact, travel, compact, pagan, and peasant.]

-Anu Garg (garg wordsmith.org)

  "Scott Spinelli has landed another paisano. Michael Smith, a Bronx, N.Y.,
   point guard, signed a national letter of intent to join Nebraska
   basketball."
   Dirk Chatelain; NU's Spinelli Gets N.Y. Guard; Omaha World-Herald;
   May 11, 2005.

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Pronunciation:
http://wordsmith.org/words/paisano.wav
http://wordsmith.org/words/paisano.ram

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