João Pestana

See also: joão-pestana

Portuguese
João Pestana

Alternative forms

Etymology

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

Pronunciation
  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /ʒuˈɐ̃w̃ pɨʃˈtɐnɐ/

Proper noun

João Pestana m

  1. sandman (mythological creature)
    • 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. a personification of sleep or drowsiness
    • 1899, Maximiliano de Azevedo, Historias das Ilhas (Reminiscencias dos Açores e da Madeira), Parceria Antonio Maria Pereira, 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.
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