cicerone

Meanings

Noun

• A guide who accompanies visitors and sightseers to museums, galleries, etc., and explains matters of archaeological, antiquarian, historic or artistic interest..

Verb

• To show (somebody) the sights, acting as a tourist guide.

Origin

• 1726, from Italian cicerone (surface analysis cicero + -one), from Latin Cicerōnem, form of Cicero, agnomen of Marcus Tullius Cicero), the Roman orator, from cicer from Proto-Indo-European *ḱiker- ("pea"). Possibly humorous reference to loquaciousness of guides.