marrano

/məˈɹɑːnəʊ/

Etymology

From Spanish marrano, of disputed origin. Perhaps a transferred use of marrano (“hog”), but many sources regard them as distinct words. Doublet of Muharram.

noun

Any of the Sephardi Jews who stayed in Iberia during the Spanish Inquisition, and continued to practice Judaism in secret.“Look at the Crypto-Jews, the Marranos, who for centuries lived a double life, outwardly Christians, but handing down secretly from generation to generation the faith, the traditions, the observances of Judaism.”