malpais

[ mahl-pah-ees ]

/ ˌmɑl pɑˈis /

Southwestern U.S. an extensive area of rough, barren lava flows.

Origin of malpais

1835–45, Americanism; < Spanish mal país bad country

A single metate of lava or malpais was excavated at Awatobi.

Archeological Expedition to Arizona in 1895 |Jesse Walter Fewkes
Ditto or unfinished mortar of the malpais for grinding chili and other ingredients for sauce.

Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained |James Stevenson
The approach was loose dirt and malpais, which ran off down the gulch in small avalanches under our feet.

Pony Tracks |Frederic Remington
Notify Buck Weaver, so he can head them off if they try to cross the Malpais.

Mavericks |William MacLeod Raine

Healy is at the head of all this rustling that has been troubling the Malpais country.

Mavericks |William MacLeod Raine