chinampa

[ chi-nam-puh ]

noun

1. (in Mesoamerica) a long and narrow floating field on a shallow lake bed, artificially built up by layering soil, sediment, and decaying vegetation and used, especially by the Aztecs, to grow crops.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chinampa¹

1830–40; < Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl < chinamitl area enclosed by canes + pa on

Example Sentences

The scent of flowers was intense in the morning, and there were still many beautiful chinampas and canals.

From Popular-Science

Zambrano’s initial research has gradually expanded to include exploring the mutually beneficial union of salamander and chinampa.

From Popular-Science

A chinampa was a floating island in the lake of Tezcuco, upon whose very bosom the imperial city was built.

From Project Gutenberg

The keeper of the chinampa was there with great bundles of flowers.

From Project Gutenberg

Viewed from a distance, the chinampa looked like an island of flowers.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you recollect the dream I told you the night on the chinampa?

From Project Gutenberg

Up in the northeastern part of the little sea lay a chinampa at anchor.

From Project Gutenberg