monacillo

[ mon-uh-see-oh; Spanish maw-nah-see-yaw ]

noun

, plural mo·na·cil·los [mon-, uh, -, see, -ohz, maw-nah-, see, -yaws].

1. a low shrub, Malvaviscus arboreus, of tropical America, having scarlet flowers and berrylike fruit that is sticky when young.

Word History and Origins

Origin of monacillo¹

From Latin American Spanish (Mexico), Spanish: literally, “altar boy,” earlier monazillo, monaziello, from Vulgar Latin monachellus (unattested), equivalent to Late Latin monach(us) monk + -ellus diminutive suffix; -elle

Example Sentences

The company said on Thursday that the fire broke out at the Monacillo power distribution plant soon after the company website was hit with two million visits per second, in a cyber-attack known as a denial of service.

From BBC

Union leader Angel Figueroa Jaramillo, who represents PREPA’s electrical workers, spoke to reporters outside the Monacillo power station as the foam from fire hoses spilled down the street.

From Washington Post

The 9 p.m. explosion Sunday at the Monacillo power plant — about eight miles from the capital city — was witnessed by residents in nearby Rio Piedras.

From Washington Post