Definition of "lazzarone"
lazzarone
noun
plural lazzarones or lazzaroni
(historical, chiefly in the plural) One of the poorer classes of Neapolitans; a beggar.
Quotations
What does he mean by his Rights of Man, and his equality?—What wretched and dangerous doctrine to diſſeminate among the lazzaroni* of England, where they are always ready enough to murmur againſt their betters?* Lazzaroni, a word deſcriptive of people reduced to the utmoſt poverty and wretchedneſs.
1792, Charlotte Smith, “Letter X. To Mr. Bethel.”, in Desmond. […], volume II, London: […] G[eorge,] G[eorge,] J[ohn] and J[ames] Robinson, […], page 121
[…] attended by one or two of his band, who intended leaving off business and turning lazzaroni, they all set off for Naples, which they found in an uproar.
1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIV, in Romance and Reality. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], page 255