casita

[ kuh-see-tuh; Spanish kah-see-tah ]

noun

, plural ca·si·tas [k, uh, -, see, -t, uh, z, kah-, see, -tahs].

1. a small crude dwelling forming part of a shantytown inhabited by Mexican laborers in the southwestern United States.
2. a luxurious bungalow serving as private guest accommodations at a resort hotel, especially in the southwestern United States or Mexico.
3. (especially in the southwestern United States) a small house, especially one built alongside or as an addition to a larger main home.

Word History and Origins

Origin of casita¹

First recorded in 1920–25; from Latin American Spanish, Spanish, equivalent to cas(a) “house, home” (from Latin ) + -ita diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

Each casita is situated with a private outhouse, double loft bed, and futon for two.

From Outside Online

We started to take these pack trains home, going northward through Sonora, but when near Casita, Mexican troops overtook us.

From Project Gutenberg

The light in his own casita flickered briefly and then vanished.

From Project Gutenberg

But Dan Anderson was not there, neither was he to be found at his casita across the arroyo.

From Project Gutenberg

In the poor casita of an old woman he awaited me—in a verree leetle house in a dark place.

From Project Gutenberg