maguey
UK[məˈɡeɪ]US[məˈɡeɪ]
n
any of various large agave plants of mexico and the southwestern us, especially one used for producing fiber and alcoholic beverages.
n
the fiber obtained from such a plant.
Etymology
the word 'maguey' entered english via spanish colonial sources, originating from the taino word 'magüey' used for the agave plant. it is a classic example of a loanword where the entire form was adopted to name a new world botanical entity unfamiliar to europeans. the term traveled from the caribbean to mainland mexico with spanish explorers and settlers, where it became the common name for several species of agave. its journey into english reflects the direct borrowing of indigenous terminology for flora and fauna discovered in the americas.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from spanish, which in turn borrowed it from an indigenous language of the caribbean (likely taino). it does not contain separable morphemes within the english language system.
Examples
the thick leaves of the maguey are harvested to produce a strong fiber called sisal.
pulque, a traditional mexican fermented drink, is made from the sap of the maguey plant.
the landscape was dotted with the towering flower stalks of century-old magueys.