— hidalgoism, hidalgism /hi dal"jiz euhm/ , n.
/hi dal"goh/ ; Sp. /ee dhahl"gaw/ , n. , pl. hidalgos /-gohz/ ; Sp. /-gaws/ .
1. a man of the lower nobility in Spain.
2. (in Spanish America) a man who owns considerable property or is otherwise esteemed.
[ 1585-95; hijo dalgo, OSp fijo dalgo a noble, a person with property, a son with something filius son + de from + aliquo something ]