guarimba

1. (Venezuela, feminine) a protest against Nicolás Maduro
2. (Venezuela, feminine) a street blockade used in protest against the government, often set on fire
3. (Venezuela, dated, feminine, uncommon) a social building, specifically to protect children from bad weather
4. (Venezuela, feminine, uncommon) a "safe" location in children's chasing games

Etymology

Of Germanic origin, from Frankish *warjan, related to guarecer and garita.
In 2014, the Nicolás Maduro government began using the word with its current definition, referring to opposition protests that they thought were childish. For Maduro supporters, the word has strongly negative connotations. However, it has been used to refer to street barricades since at least 2005, stemming from the equivalent in children's games, with the barricades originally considered places of refuge from protesting, still in the streets but protecting from harm.

Synonyms

barricada