Quinqui jargon

• Descendants of mechanical workers who arrived in Spain from central Europe in the 16th century;
• Descendants of peasants who lost their land in the 16th century;
• Descendants of intermarriage between the Roma and non-Roma populations;
• Descendants of Muslims who became nomads after the expulsion in the 15th century to escape persecution; and/or
• A mixture of the above.

  Notable mercheros

• Eleuterio Sánchez, a.k.a. El Lute. A petty thief in his early life, he was convicted of armed robbery and murder; after escaping from prison, he was listed as "The Most Wanted" by the Spanish police. Later he earned a law degree and wrote five books. He was pardoned at age 39.