mescal

[ me-skal ]

noun

1. an intoxicating beverage distilled from the fermented juice of certain species of agave.
2. any agave yielding this spirit.
3. Also called peyote. either of two species of spineless, dome-shaped cactus, Lophophora williamsii or L. diffusa, of Texas and northern Mexico, yielding the hallucinogen peyote.

mescal

/ mɛˈskæl /

noun

1. Also calledpeyote a spineless globe-shaped cactus, Lophophora williamsii, of Mexico and the southwestern US. Its button-like tubercles ( mescal buttons ) contain mescaline and are chewed by certain Indian tribes for their hallucinogenic effects
2. a colourless alcoholic spirit distilled from the fermented juice of certain agave plants

Word History and Origins

Origin of mescal¹

1695–1705, Americanism; < Mexican Spanish mescal, mezcal, mexcal < Nahuatl mexcalli intoxicant distilled from agave (perhaps equivalent to me ( tl ) maguey + ( i ) xcalli something cooked)

Word History and Origins

Origin of mescal¹

C19: from American Spanish, from Nahuatl mexcalli the liquor, from metl maguey + ixcalli stew

Example Sentences

Now they take home strange men they meet buying mescal at the grocery store, and have a hell of a wild night.

From The Daily Beast

The honey from the flowers of mescal and mesquite is the best to be obtained in this country of innumerable bees.

From Project Gutenberg

Bartley suggested that they sit at one of the side tables and study the effects of mescal on the natives present.

From Project Gutenberg

The peddler called anxiously, "Will you give me some mescal?"

From Project Gutenberg

The Indian's life really lay in gathering and roasting mescal.

From Project Gutenberg

It is generally through mescal that the Indians become peons.

From Project Gutenberg