noun
- Plural of padrone; Italian or Spanish landlords, innkeepers, or employers, especially those who exploited immigrant workers.
Usage: historical; often used in the context of Italian or Spanish immigration to the Americas; typically refers to a system of labor exploitation
Examples
- The padroni controlled housing and work assignments for newly arrived immigrants.
- Many Italian workers fell into debt to the padroni who brought them to America.
- The padroni system was a form of indentured servitude that lasted well into the 20th century.
- Historians have documented how padroni exploited vulnerable immigrant communities.
- The power of the padroni diminished as labor laws were strengthened.