Learn English – What does “to be Latin” mean

idiomsmeaningphrases

I’m reading a mystery novel which was published in the 1930s, and a character describes another character who had threatened to kill her as “Latin” (with a capital L). What does this mean? Google doesn’t seem to help; here’s the exchange from the book:

She threatened to – well – kill us both. Jackie can be rather- Latin
sometimes.

Best Answer

OED has this for Latin under "Draft Additions 1997":

Designating the characteristics of temperament or behaviour popularly attributed to European or American peoples speaking languages developed from Latin: proud, passionate, impetuous, showy in appearance, etc. Sometimes somewhat dismissive.

Its first citation for that meaning is from 1914.