Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. describing a Mexican or Mexican culture.

1935		N. Algren ‘Thundermug’ in Texas Stories (1995) 71: Even them cholo gals laughed a little.
1990		S. Morgan Homeboy 176: The tatoo [...] read mi loca vida, the cholo version of born to lose.
1997		E. Little Another Day in Paradise 114: Melvin has his cholo mustache, and you look like a college boy. [Ibid.] 184: Fuck this cholo motherfucker.
2006		F.X. Toole Pound for Pound 51: Outfits designed by homeboys to trumpet their cholo toughness.
2021		T. Swerdlow Straight Dope [ebook] [T]he enlisted men and women of a ragtag Cholo army.

2. pertaining to a member of a Mexican teen gang.

1970		J. Wambaugh New Centurions 270: Serge snorted at the exaggerated cholo walk of ape man: toes turned out, heels digging in, arms swinging freely, this was the trademark of the gang member.
1985		A.P. Nilsen et al. Dust in Our Desks 120: A boy walked toward me with that tough cholo walk.
1991		L. Bing Do or Die (1992) xiv: It was the cholo homeboy who first walked the walk and talked the talk.
1993		L. Rodríguez Always Running (1996) 44: The dudes began to sport cholo attire: the baggy starched pants and suspenders over white T-shirts [...] the bandanas and small brim hats.
2002		Vigil & Moore Rainbow of Gangs 58: He started dressing even more in the cholo style: khakis, cutoffs, white T-shirts, and athletic shoes — BK’s.
2003		L. Kontos Gangs and Society 17: The cholo lifestyle is related to what has been described as ‘defiant’ [...] Many Mexican American youths outside the gang arena adopt the cholo subculture.
2015		P. Beatty Sellout (2016) 63: A click of peewees, fresh out of cholo school.
2023		(con. 1962) J. Ellroy Enchanters 58: [J]ammed between an Olds coupe and cholo Impala.