João Pestana

See also: joão-pestana

Portuguese

João Pestana

Alternative forms

Etymology

From João (John, a common male given name) + Pestana (eyelash, also a surname).

Pronunciation

 
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ʒoˈɐ̃w̃ pesˈtɐ̃.nɐ/ [ʒoˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃ pesˈtɐ̃.nɐ]
    • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA(key): /ʒoˈɐ̃w̃ peʃˈtɐ̃.nɐ/ [ʒoˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃ peʃˈtɐ̃.nɐ]
    • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /ʒoˈɐ̃w̃ pesˈtɐ.na/ [ʒoˈɐ̃ʊ̯̃ pesˈtɐ.na]
 

Proper noun

João Pestana m

  1. (mythology) sandman
    • 1946, João Carlos, A estrada de fogo, Editorial Gleba, page 211:
      Estás a cair com soninho… é o João Pestana que lá vem…
      You are falling asleep… Sandman is coming…
  2. personification of sleep or drowsiness
    • 1899, Maximiliano de Azevedo, Historias das Ilhas (Reminiscencias dos Açores e da Madeira), Libraria Editora, page 220:
      O pae riu-se e disse-lhe que não deitasse as culpas ás feiticeiras mas ao João Pestana.
      The father laughed and told him not to blame the sorceresses but his own sleepiness.

Further reading

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