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doctrino

charity school boy

noun dohk-TREE-noh Rare
People & Society Education

Origin: From doctrina (Christian doctrine) — boys taught doctrine in charity schools

Usage Note

Doctrino (historically also doctrinero) referred to a boy raised and educated in a colonial-era charity school or convent, taught Christian doctrine in exchange for care. It is masculine (el doctrino) and a highly specialized historical term rarely seen outside colonial-history texts.

Examples

"El doctrino aprendía latín en el convento."

Natural Translation

The charity-school boy learned Latin in the convent.

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