Medegones Edit Meaning

1.

An Italian term meaning outsiders, them, or just non-Italians in general. Not really a derogatory word it really just meant non-Italians mostly without a negative connotation. Used mostly 1940s and 1950s for the Irish, German, Polish, and Jewish.

For me, I am sure that for most second generation Italian-American children who grew up in the '40s and '50s, there was a definite distinction drawn between US and THEM. We were ITALIANS! Everybody else -- the Irish, German, Polish, Jewish - they were the "Medegones (MED-E-GONES)."

The Joy of Growing Up Italian

by Tony Scire

See italian