Manchego, n. and adj.
Origin: A borrowing from Spanish. Etymon: Spanish manchego.
Etymology: < Spanish manchego, adjective and noun (both 1605 in Cervantes) < La Mancha , the name of a barren, elevated plateau and of the region in central Spain in which it is situated + Spanish -ego , suffix forming adjectives. Compare earlier Manchegan n.
A. n.
1. = Manchegan n.
1779 H. Swinburne Trav. Spain xxxvi. 319
The Manchegos have a pretty song about these eyes of the Guadiana.
1835 R. M. Bird Infidel I. vi. 86
The two Manchegos were ill inclined to the expedition.
1876 Littell's Living Age 8 July 117/2
His colored handkerchief knotted round his head, denoting him probably to be a Valenciano or Manchego.
1960 R. Croft-Cooke Through Spain with Don Quixote 260
Slow conversations with homespun Manchegos.
1779—1960(Hide quotations)
2. Frequently with lower-case initial. Manchego cheese (see sense ( B. 2).
1957 E. Cass Spanish Cookery 47
Manchego: the sheep's cheese of La Mancha, very good when fresh and soft.
1962 N.Y. Times 1 Apr. x. 27/5
It was a simple but tasty meal..and it was topped off by a large chunk of Manchego, a cheese that comes from the Don Quixote windmill country of La Mancha.
1980 Washington Post
(Nexis)
14 Feb. e1
Unusual cheeses such as manchego from Spain.
1997 Esquire Oct. 142/1
His gorgeous-looking chile relleno is..topped with manchego on a black-bean puree.
1957—1997(Hide quotations)
B. adj.
1. = Manchegan adj. As postmodifier: designating a dish originating in La Mancha.
1828 H. G. Ward Mexico in 1827 I. 157
It was a favorite maxim with the Oidor Bataller ‘that while a Manchego mule, or a Castilian cobler remained in the Peninsula, he had a right to govern’.
1875 Amer. Cycl. X. 883/2
Windowless shops..thronged with Manchego mendicants.
1924 Geogr. Rev. 21 491
Gentle elevations affording broad views in which observers find the Manchego charm.
1977 Washington Post Mag.
(Nexis)
16 Oct. 22
Eggs manchego—baked in an earthenware casserole with ham, peas, asparagus, artichoke hearts, pimientos and tomatoes.
2000 P. Almodóvar in S. Lowenstein My First Movie 234
After that, I moved out with my family to Extremadura, although I am really more manchego than extremeño.
1828—2000(Hide quotations)
2. Frequently with lower-case initial. Designating a firm Spanish cheese originating in La Mancha, traditionally made with sheep's milk. In later use (also): containing or made with this cheese.
1913 N.Y. Times Mag. 21 Dec. 7/2
Wooden stalls..were loaded with sweetmeats, fruits, cakes, manchego cheeses, &c, brought from the province or hamlet of which each dainty was a specialty.
1966 Times 9 Feb. 8/5
Manchego varieties of cheese are the tastiest, Canary tomatoes the sweetest.
1995 Restaurant Hospitality
(Nexis)
May 113
Manchego flan with warm salad of roasted Bosc pears and autumn squash.
2003 Philadelphia Inquirer
(Nexis)
18 Apr. e2
Pre-dinner tidbits such as..fig and manchego fritters with pineapple salsa.
1913—2003(Hide quotations)