It's a slang word (CaloTotacho) that's derived from the word Chueco which means crooked, broken, shady and so on. This is what the Tririlones use to call El Paso especially in Tirili sections of the city like Segundo Barrio. There are several theories about the origins of the word but this is the one that is historically documented as fact and was confirmed by German Valdez when being interviews for his autobiography. As far as the other stories like the one that says that it came from a shoe company have no historical evidence and are just myths.
Synonyms of chuco are calo gitano totacho totacha caliche
Used in US as well
"El Paso, Chucotown, El Chuco, Tirili, Pachucos"
Chuco is short for Pachuco. A Pachuco which originally evolved in the city of El Paso Tx. U.S.A. Pachucos are renegades living to their own rules who also acquired a unique wardrobe so distinct that differentiated themselves from the population. Wardrobe set consists of a oversized suit; long chain from wallet to pants dangling, shiny pointy shoes known as "Tablitas" and a hat adorned with feathers, otherwise known as a zoot suit. Pachucos popular in town, the city absorbed its name, later shortened to Chuco as time passed.
"I am from Chuco Texas"
Is a phrase very border, rather Juarez el Paso, the story is very short, at the beginning of the last century had a shoe factory that occupied a large number of residents of Juarez and every day they had to go to work and expression was "WE ARE GOING TO THE SHOE CO " ( 39 SHOE;COMPANY S ) that phrase comes from there! Let the CHUCO, then when you come to Juarez and ud say that you going to the CHUCO mean!
