João Pestana

See also: joão-pestana

Portuguese

João Pestana

Alternative forms

• joão-pestana

Etymology

From João (“John”, a common male given name) +‎ Pestana (“eyelash”, also a surname).

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʒoˈɐ̃w̃ pesˈtɐ̃.nɐ/ [ʒoˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃ pesˈtɐ̃.nɐ]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʒoˈɐ̃w̃ pesˈtɐ̃.nɐ/ [ʒoˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃ pesˈtɐ̃.nɐ]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ʒoˈɐ̃w̃ peʃˈtɐ̃.nɐ/ [ʒoˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃ peʃˈtɐ̃.nɐ]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʒoˈɐ̃w̃ pesˈtɐ.na/ [ʒoˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃ pesˈtɐ.na]

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈʒwɐ̃w̃ pɨʃˈtɐ.nɐ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈʒwɐ̃w̃ pɨʃˈtɐ.nɐ/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈʒwɐ̃w̃ pɨʃˈta.nɐ/

Proper noun

João Pestana m

1. (mythology) sandman
   • 1946, João Carlos, A estrada de fogo, Editorial Gleba, page 211:

     Estás a cair com soninho… é o João Pestana que lá vem…

     You are falling asleep… Sandman is coming…

2. personification of sleep or drowsiness
   • 1899, Maximiliano de Azevedo, Historias das Ilhas (Reminiscencias dos Açores e da Madeira), Libraria Editora, page 220:

     O pae riu-se e disse-lhe que não deitasse as culpas ás feiticeiras mas ao João Pestana.

     The father laughed and told him not to blame the sorceresses but his own sleepiness.

Further reading

• João Pestana on the Portuguese Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^pt