A Sancho Panza
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A rough and ready, sharp and humorous justice of the peace. In allusion to Sancho, as judge in the isle of Barataria.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “A Sancho Panza” mean?
A rough and ready, sharp and humorous justice of the peace. In allusion to Sancho, as judge in the isle of Barataria.
Is “A Sancho Panza” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.