ghetto, Venice, Venetian

Established in 1516, the Venetian ghetto brought together different Jewish traditions and produced five synagogues. The development of this rich, hybrid cultural life was made even more varied by contact with the surrounding Christians

Some consider the Venice ghetto to be "the most important Jewish heritage site in Europe"

The Venice ghetto gave the world an odious word, but its synagogues shouldbe restored

ECON.ST

ghetto 

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɛtəʊ/ 

NOUN (plural ghettos or ghettoes)

1A part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups.

Example sentences

1.1historical The Jewish quarter in a city:the Warsaw Ghetto

More example sentences

1.2An isolated or segregated group or area:the relative security of the gay ghetto

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VERB (ghettoes, ghettoing, ghettoed)

[WITH OBJECT]

Put in or restrict to an isolated or segregated area or group.

Example sentences

Origin

Early 17th century: perhaps from Italian getto 'foundry' (because the first ghetto was established in 1516 on the site of a foundry in Venice), or from Italian borghetto, diminutive of borgo 'borough'.

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• Italian getto ‘a foundry’ is probably the source of this word for a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group. The first ghetto was established in 1516 on the site of a foundry in Venice. Alternatively, it may come from Italian borghetto, meaning ‘a little borough’. In Italy the word referred to the quarter of a city to which Jews were restricted, a use that became more widespread elsewhere, as in the Warsaw ghetto.