de moca

Galician

Etymology

Attested since 1812. From comer (“to eat”) de (“of”) moca (“flail's handle”), because neighbours used to help each other thrashing grain, being paid with a feast.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [deˈmɔkɐ]

Adverb

de moca

1. gratis, for free
   • 1812, Ramón González Senra, Carta recomendada:

     Quen quixer cebada é palla de moca para os seus cabalos de recreo, pagaraia, é senon que pete á outra porta

     Whoever wants rye and straw for free for his recreational horses, he must pay for it or else knock on another door

Usage notes

It has frequently a negative or cunning connotation, as it implies "at other's expenses".

Related terms

• de moca

References

• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “moca”, 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), “de moca”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “de moca”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN