truhan

Meaning

Noun

1. (masculine) a scoundrel, scammer, swindler
2. (masculine) a rogue, crook
3. (historical, masculine) a medieval jester, buffoon

Adj

1. cunning, tricky
2. (figuratively) clowning, wisecracking (said of a person)

Pronounced as (IPA)

/tɾuˈan/

Etymology

Inherited from Old Spanish: trufán

Cognate with English: truant

Cognate with Irish: trogán

Cognate with Old Irish: tróg

Cognate with Breton: tru

In summary

According to Coromines and Pascual, from Old Spanish trufán, attested since the 13th century, borrowed from Old French truand (“a mendicant; a crook or gangster”), from a Gaulish *trūgantos, perhaps diminutive of *trūgos, cognate with English truant, Irish trogán, related to Old Irish tróg (“miserable, unfortunate”), Breton tru (“weak”).