mesquite

or mes·quit

[ me-skeet, mes-keet ]
/ mɛˈskit, ˈmɛs kit /

noun

any of several usually spiny trees or shrubs belonging to the genus Prosopis, of the legume family, as P. juliflora or P. glandulosa, of western North America, having bipinnate leaves and beanlike pods and often forming dense thickets.
the wood of such a tree or shrub, used especially in grilling or barbecuing food.
any of various similar or related plants.

Origin of mesquite

1830–40, Americanism; < Mexican Spanish mezquite < Nahuatl mizquitl

Words nearby mesquite

mesotron, mesovarium, mesozoa, mesozoan, mesozoic, mesquite, mess, mess about, mess around, mess call, mess gear

Definition for mesquite (2 of 2)

Mesquite
[ me-skeet, mi- ]
/ mɛˈskit, mɪ- /

noun

a city in NE Texas, E of Dallas.

Example sentences from the Web for mesquite

British Dictionary definitions for mesquite

mesquite

mesquit

/ (mɛˈskiːt, ˈmɛskiːt) /

noun

any small leguminous tree of the genus Prosopis, esp the tropical American P. juliflora, whose sugary pods (mesquite beans) are used as animal fodder Also called: algarroba, honey locust, honey mesquite

Word Origin for mesquite

C19: from Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl mizquitl