I. ˈge-(ˌ)tō noun
( plural ghettos also ghettoes )
Etymology: Italian, from Venetian dialect ghèto island where Jews were forced to live, literally, foundry (located on the island), from ghetàr to cast, from Latin jactare to throw — more at jet
Date: 1611
1. : a quarter of a city in which Jews were formerly required to live
2. : a quarter of a city in which members of a minority group live especially because of social, legal, or economic pressure
3.
a. : an isolated group
a geriatric ghetto
b. : a situation that resembles a ghetto especially in conferring inferior status or limiting opportunity
the pink-collar ghetto
II. transitive verb
Date: 1936
: ghettoize