mescal
UK[mɛˈskal]US[mɛˈskɑːl]
n
A type of alcoholic spirit distilled from the fermented sap of certain agave plants, especially the maguey.
n
The small, spineless agave plant (Agave parryi) from which this spirit is traditionally made, or the fleshy part of such a plant.
Etymology
The word 'mescal' entered English in the 18th century via American Spanish, borrowed from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word 'mexcalli', which referred to the agave plant and a fermented drink made from it. The Nahuatl term itself is a compound of 'metl' (agave) and 'ixcalli' (stewed or cooked). The journey from a specific indigenous term for a cooked agave preparation to the modern English designation for a distinct distilled spirit illustrates the adaptation of a native concept into a global commodity. The logic traces a path from a concrete botanical and culinary referent in Mesoamerican culture to its current primary meaning as a categorized beverage in international commerce and consumption.
Analysis
This word is a simplex loanword from Spanish. It does not contain separable morphemes within its current English spelling.
Examples
We sampled a smooth, smoky mescal from Oaxaca.
The desert landscape was dotted with the distinctive shapes of mescal plants.
The traditional process for making mescal involves roasting the agave hearts in underground pits.