1810, from Spanish picaresco "roguish," from picaro "rogue," of uncertain origin, possibly from picar "to pierce," from Vulgar Latin *piccare (see pike (n.2)). Originally in roman picaresque "rogue novel," the classic example being "Gil Blas."
双语例句
1. Invisible Man, writen by American black writer Ralph Ellison, is a typical picaresque novel.