pousafoles

Galician

Etymology

A compound pousar (“to rest”) +‎ foles (“bags”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌpowsaˈfɔles/

Noun

pousafoles m or f (invariable)

1. counter or stand for resting a load

   Synonym: pousadoiro

Noun

pousafoles m or f by sense (invariable)

1. (figurative) a supporting person
2. (figurative, derogatory) sycophant
   • 1876, O tío Marcos da Portela, number 1:

     —Ben, home, ben; ti xuzgas que fixeche unha gran cousa, pois velaí tes como vives enganado. Os argallás e pousafoles a quen lembras, ouvirán o que falas, como quen oi ouvear os lobos de lonxe.

     «Good luck with this; you consider that you have made a great deed but, behold, you are living a lie. The machinators and sycophants you remember will hear what you say as the ones who hear the wolves howling in the distance.»

3. (figurative, derogatory) a clumsy, sluggish person

   Synonyms: foupeiro, zoupón

Related terms

• fol
• pousar

References

• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “pousafoles”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “pousafoles”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “pousafoles”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN