Mesquite definition

mĕ-skēt, mə-

Any of various small spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Prosopis of the pea family, native to hot, dry regions chiefly of the Americas and important as a source of firewood, nectar for honeybees, and forage for cattle. The pods of most species are edible.

noun

Any of several thorny trees or shrubs (genus Prosopis) of the mimosa family, common in the SW U.S. and in Mexico, including the screw bean: the sugary, beanlike, edible pods are used as fodder.

noun

(place) City in NE Tex.: suburb of Dallas.

proper name

Any of several deciduous trees of the genus Prosopis found in North America, and used as forage, which have long, beige seed/bean pods which may be dried and ground into a sweet, nutty flour.

noun

The wood of these trees, used for smoking food, or charcoal made from this wood.

noun

Country or land dominated by mesquite trees.

noun

A city (now a suburb of Dallas) in Texas.

pronoun

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:

mesquite

Plural:

mesquites

Origin of mesquite

Spanish mezquite from Nahuatl mizquitl

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Spanish mezquite, mizquite, from Nahuatl mizquitl (“mesquite tree").

From Wiktionary

Mesquite definition

Other Word Forms

Noun

Origin of mesquite

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

From Wiktionary

Mesquite Sentence Examples

Related articles

Also Mentioned In

Words near mesquite in the Dictionary

Filter