In the same language, certain words acquire different meanings depending on each community of speakers. The term pololo is a good example of this. While in Spain and some Latin American countries it is a garment, in Chile it is a word with different uses, the most special being that which implies referring to our beloved better half.
In the Chilean context
The Spanish vocabulary spoken by Chileans has incorporated certain words from indigenous languages. Pololo comes specifically from the Mapuche word piulliu, which means fly. In this way, just as a fly prowls around the fruit, the boyfriend is the man who hovers around a woman with the purpose of attracting her.
The boyfriend is not exactly the boyfriend of a girl but the one who aspires to be. In this sense, there is the verb pololear, which is equivalent to courting. Likewise, if a woman tries to get the attention of a man, she is said to be dating. Chileans often say that someone is their girlfriend to refer to their boyfriend in a loving way. At the same time, pololeo is all that sentimental relationship in which there is not a very stable commitment, something like a summer love or a temporary relationship.
A pololo or polito can also be an informal job that is done sporadically. Thus, someone could say "I do not have a stable job, but from time to time I get a little girl".
Finally, in Chile there is an endemic and pollinator insect with a greenish color. Its scientific name is Astylus trifasciatus, but it is popularly called pololo or sanjuán.
A garment that is no longer worn
In the olden days babies and toddlers were put on baggy shorts that reached to the knees. They were shaped like a breeches so that they could comfortably carry diapers inside. This garment was known as a polo shirt and was used to protect children from the cold. With the passage of time, women who carried out some physical activity outdoors incorporated this type of pants to wear it under the skirt and cover their legs.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, showing your legs was considered indecent behavior and contrary to good morals. Both the baby polo shirt and the feminine one were made of cotton or wool and sometimes wore lace and embroidery.
While this garment is no longer in use, it has become a piece of interest to fashion-forward collectors of other eras.
Photo: Fotolia - Artistan
