Spanish Maquis - Etymology

Etymology

The term "maqui" comes from the French term "maquis" ("a small mountain, covered with weeds"), which comes in turn from the Corsican term "macchia", meaning "dense, deep forest" or "thick vegetation". It was the expression used for privateers when, fleeing from the authorities, they would seek refuge in the mountains of Corsica.

In France, the term was first used to refer to a group of guerrillas of the French resistance against the German occupation of France during World War II. The resistance fighters in these encampments were referred to as "maquisards".

The term became synonymous with the anti-Francisco Franco guerrillas in Spain. Many of the Spanish maquis also participated in the French resistance movement.

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