padrone
/pəˈdrəʊn/
NOUN
1. A patron or protector
A person who provides support, protection, or financial assistance to another person or an organization.
1.1. Patron and benefactor
A person who supports, sponsors, or protects someone, often by providing financial assistance or other resources.
Synonyms
- patron
- benefactor
- protector
- sponsor
- supporter
Antonyms
Examples
- The artist relied on a wealthy padrone to finance his work.
Related Words
NOUN
2. A master of a small Mediterranean vessel
The person in command of a small coastal trading or sailing vessel in the Mediterranean.
2.1. Maritime commander
A person who owns or commands a small coastal vessel and directs its navigation and operations.
Synonyms
- shipmaster
- skipper
- captain
- boatmaster
Examples
- The padrone guided his small vessel along the Mediterranean coast.
Related Words
NOUN
3. An employer or controller of Italian laborers
A man who imports Italian laborers, street musicians, or child beggars and controls their work and earnings.
3.1. Labor exploitation and control
A person who recruits or brings Italian workers into another country and exercises control over their employment and income, often exploitatively.
Synonyms
- labor contractor
- labor exploiter
- employer
- taskmaster
Examples
- The padrone controlled the earnings of the Italian workers he had brought into the country.
Related Words
- recruiter
- middleman
- overseer
- trafficker
- labor broker
NOUN
4. An innkeeper or proprietor
A man who owns or manages an inn, hotel, tavern, or similar establishment.
4.1. Hotel and inn proprietor
A person who owns or operates an establishment that provides lodging and hospitality to guests.
Synonyms
Examples
- The padrone welcomed travelers into his inn.
- The village padrone managed a popular tavern near the harbor.