wop

[ wop ]

noun

, Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

1. a contemptuous term used to refer to an Italian or a person of Italian descent.

wop

¹

/ wɒp /

noun

1. slang.
   a member of a Latin people, esp an Italian

wop

²

/ wɒp /

verb

1. a variant spelling of whop

Word History and Origins

Origin of wop¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1910–15; from Italian (Neapolitan and Sicilian dialect) guappo “bully, showy,” from Spanish guapo “a dandy”; further origin uncertain, possibly ultimately from Latin vappa “wine that has gone flat; worthless or useless person.” The belief that this word is an acronym of “without papers/passport,” in reference to immigration status, is without substance

Word History and Origins

Origin of wop¹

C20: probably from southern Italian dialect guappo dandy, braggart, from Spanish guapo