chico

¹

[ chee-koh ]

noun

1. Informal. a boy or young man (often used as a nickname or form of address):

   Sorry, chico, but that’s not the killer argument you’d like to think it is!

   We hoped we looked like just a couple of laid-back chicos out for a stroll.

chico

²

[ chee-koh ]

noun

, plural chi·cos.

1. greasewood ( def 1 ).

Chico

³

[ chee-koh ]

noun

1. a city in central California.
2. a male given name.

chico

/ ˈtʃiːkəʊ /

noun

1. another name for greasewood

Word History and Origins

Origin of chico¹

First recorded in 1965–70; from Spanish: “boy,” of expressive origin, representing a common Romance stem found in words for small things; compare Latin ciccum “bagatelle, trifle, worthless object” ( chinchy ( def ) )

Origin of chico²

Short for chicalote ( def )

Example Sentences

Over her 27-year coaching career, Roberts has successfully transformed college programs, achieving complete turnarounds at Chico State, Pacific and Utah.

From Los Angeles Times

“My dad had a house in Chico, so I had somewhere to go. A lot of people were living in tents at Walmart.”

From Los Angeles Times

The morning of the Camp fire, he had a doctor’s appointment in Chico and left his home in Paradise before the town was engulfed.

From Los Angeles Times

She then led Division II Chico State, posting an 86-31 record.

From Los Angeles Times

“These are people who committed crimes and are being punished for those crimes,” said Jeff Greeson, a prosecutor from Chico who voted against Proposition 6.

From Los Angeles Times