A foreigner of the working class and of Latin race: usually an Italian or a Spaniard. See Notes and Queries, 10 S. ii. 247, 332, 351.
1832. These Degos [of Minorca], as they are pleasantly called by our people, were always a great pest when we were in the harbour of Mahon.—E. C. Wines, ‘Two Years and a Half in the Navy,’ i. 101 (Phila.). (Italics in the original.)
1858. ‘And so, Bill,’ said one, ‘you served as an ingineer with these ere blamed dagos, you say. Now du tell how you lik ’em!’ ‘Wal, Nathan,’ replied his companion, ‘pritty well, considerin’ they are dagos; but, burst my outboard delivery, if you can ever get ’em to grapple any thing!’—Knick. Mag., li. 7 (Jan.).
1888. The shrimps are caught by Dagos.—The American, July 18 (Farmer).
