amargosa
amargosa Lexical Profile
• noun
American An arid desert valley in Nye County, Nevada, situated near the California border and characterized by extreme temperatures and unique desert ecology.
"Travelers crossing the Amargosa must carry plenty of extra water to survive the punishing summer heat."
American An intermittent waterway flowing through southern Nevada and eastern California that ultimately empties into Death Valley, famous for its arid surroundings and bitter, alkaline waters.
North American Any of several bitterly flavored desert shrubs native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, particularly the crucifixion thorn (Castela emoryi).
"Traditional herbalists sometimes utilized extracts from the amargosa despite its notoriously sharp and astringent taste."
• Rhymes for amargosa
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Spanish word 'amargosa' (the feminine form of 'amargoso', meaning 'bitter'), which ultimately stems from the Latin 'amarus'. It was historically applied to the geographic region and its water sources due to their alkaline, bitter taste.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.