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Definition of mesquite

mesquite

/mɛˈskiːt/
mes · quite
Plural:mesquites
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mesquite Lexical Profile

mesquite Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American The hard wood of the mesquite tree, frequently used as a fuel for grilling and smoking meat to impart a distinctive, sweet, and smoky flavor.

Example

"He smoked the brisket over slow-burning mesquite to give it an authentic Texas barbecue flavor."

2

North American A spiny leguminous tree or shrub of the pea family, native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico, characterized by deep taproots and sweet, edible seed pods.

Example

"The cattle rested in the shade of a large mesquite during the heat of the afternoon."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mesquite

• Rhymes for mesquite

• Nearby Words

mesolithic
mesopotamian
mesozoic
mesquite
mess
message
messageboard

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into English in the mid-18th century from Mexican Spanish 'mezquite', which itself is derived from the Nahuatl word 'mizquitl'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mesquite. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mesquite
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