Carusu

In Sicilian, carusu (plural carusi) is a common term primarily used to refer to a boy, lad, or young man. The term can also be used more generally to refer to a child, though this usage is less frequent than its application to males specifically. While the precise etymology remains somewhat debated, one prevailing theory traces its origins to the Arabic word "qarrās," which denoted a young worker or apprentice, often in a mining context.

Historically, the term carusu gained particular notoriety in reference to young boys employed in the sulfur mines of Sicily during the 19th and early 20th centuries. These carusi were often forced to work in extremely harsh and dangerous conditions, carrying heavy loads of sulfur ore from deep within the mines to the surface. The system of carusaggio (child labor in the mines) was exploitative, with the boys often being sold or leased to mine owners by their impoverished families or by intermediaries known as parruni. The plight of these child laborers became a symbol of the broader social and economic problems facing Sicily at the time.

Beyond its historical association with mine labor, carusu retains its common usage in modern Sicilian dialect as a general term for a boy or young man, similar to the English terms "boy," "lad," or "youngster." Its use can carry varying degrees of formality or affection depending on context.