pinta

¹ American  

[pin-tuh, peen-tah] / ˈpɪn tə, ˈpin tɑ /

noun

Pathology.

1. a nonvenereal treponematosis occurring chiefly in Central and South America, caused by Treponema carateum, characterized by spots of various colors on the skin.

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Pinta ² American  

[pin-tuh, peen-tah] / ˈpɪn tə, ˈpin tɑ /

noun

1. one of the three ships under the command of Columbus during his first voyage to America in 1492.

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Pinta ¹ British  

/ ˈpɪntə /

noun

1. one of the three ships commanded by Columbus on his first voyage to America (1492)

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pinta ² British  

/ ˈpɪntə /

noun

1. Also called: mal de pinto.  a tropical infectious skin disease caused by the bacterium Treponema carateum and characterized by the formation of papules and loss of pigmentation in circumscribed areas

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pinta ³ British  

/ ˈpaɪntə /

noun

1. informal a pint of milk

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Etymology

Origin of pinta

First recorded in 1815–25; from South American Spanish, special use of Spanish pinta “spot,” from Vulgar Latin pincta, (unattested) feminine of pinctus (unattested), nasalized variant of Latin pictus, past participle of pingere “to paint ”

Example Sentences

A fourth treponemal disease, pinta, is caused by Treponema carateum or Treponema pallidum subsp. carateum.

From Science Daily • Jan. 26, 2026

No complete genome of the pathogen responsible for pinta has yet been recovered, which leaves questions about its evolutionary relationships and classification.

From Science Daily • Jan. 26, 2026

One was the papa pinta boca: the mouth-painting potato, which has velvety purple skin.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 4, 2016

She appeared in television advertisements for the Dairy Council as the "drinka pinta milka day" girl.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2015

Remarks.—These colorful squirrels were taken in thick timber and brush, and locally are referred to as "ardilla pinta" or "ardilla colorada."

From Mammals from Tamaulipas, Mexico by Baker, Rollin H. (Rollin Harold)