padrone

[ puh-droh-nee, -ney; Italian pah-draw-ne ]

noun

, plural pa·dro·nes [p, uh, -, droh, -neez, -neyz], Italian pa·dro·ni [pah-, draw, -nee].

1. a master; boss.
2. an employer, especially of immigrant laborers, who provides communal housing and eating arrangements, controls the allocation of pay, etc., in a manner that exploits the workers.
3. an innkeeper.

padrone

/ pəˈdrəʊnɪ /

noun

1. the owner or proprietor of an inn, esp in Italy
2. an employer who completely controls his workers, esp a man who exploits Italian immigrants in the US

Other Words From

• pa·dro·nism [p, uh, -, droh, -niz-, uh, m], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of padrone¹

From Italian, dating back to 1660–70; patron

Word History and Origins

Origin of padrone¹

C17: from Italian; see patron ¹

Example Sentences

Zelphine has just been talking to the padrone, who speaks excellent English, about the excursion to-morrow.

From Project Gutenberg

The padrone asks us, in case we decide to drive, whether we will give a seat in our carriage to the odd number.

From Project Gutenberg

Their spirit of mutual helpfulness saved them from padrone, "banker," and Black Hand.

From Project Gutenberg

It seems that sometimes, though rarely, it pleases them to pretend to believe that their padrone has displeased them.

From Project Gutenberg

A waif like himself, a lost baby whom he found on the road being cruelly beaten by a brute of an Italian padrone.

From Project Gutenberg