tamale

¹

[ tuh-mah-lee ]

noun

1. a Mexican dish made of minced and seasoned meat packed in cornmeal dough, wrapped in corn husks, and steamed.

Tamale

²

[ tuh-mah-lee ]

noun

1. a city in N Ghana.

tamale

/ təˈmɑːlɪ /

noun

1. a Mexican dish made of minced meat mixed with crushed maize and seasonings, wrapped in maize husks and steamed

Word History and Origins

Origin of tamale¹

1605–15, Americanism; construed as singular of Mexican Spanish tamales, plural of tamal < Nahuatl tamalli

Word History and Origins

Origin of tamale¹

C19: erroneously for tamal, from Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl tamalli

Example Sentences

In the wake of the audio leak scandal, the incumbent wrapped himself in latinidad like a tamale snug inside a corn husk — and he still lost.

From Los Angeles Times

It happened in 2003, involving a police captain, a civil rights attorney, a councilman, a deli owner and a tamale maker, among others.

From Los Angeles Times

Before knocking on doors, Duarte had spent his morning at a tamale festival and was headed next to an event at a Sikh temple.

From Los Angeles Times

In the last five years, the nonprofit found, California school districts have added 41 new vegan dishes to their menus, including chana masala bowls, vegan tamales, and falafel wraps.

From Salon

The ride is smooth, and carriages are clean and comfortable, with a cafe car stocked with warm tamales spiced with delicate herbs.

From Los Angeles Times