In the movie Young Guns, Chavez calls Billy the Kid Chivato. Sources online say this was an actual nickname. Not sure if that’s true as there is a lot of conflicting info out there. Anyway I’m trying to get the meaning in this context.
Apparently a literal translation means rat. That would imply snitch maybe? Traitor? But that doesn’t make sense.
Another meaning that can be found online is little goat. Also coyote.
Usual translations are snitch, warning device and kid (goat) between six months and a year old, but in this case it’s got to be the second entry from the RAE’s online dictionary:
Used as an adjective in Bolivia and Colombia in reference to a lively and daring kid (human) who combines intelligence and cheekiness.
In Panama, an acquaintance of mine was nicknamed “Chivo” (goat) because of his happy-go-lucky nature (and also because he had a big mop of unruly blonde hair). So I agree the goat/kid sensed is the right one.