Glossary of Spanish and Indian Words
abusos. abuses, disturbances.
adios. adieu, good-bye.
agente. agent.
agua. water.
agua bendita. blessed water.
agua miel. lit. honey water, the unfermented juice of the maguéy.
aguardiente. a spirituous liquor.
aguas frescas. refreshing drinks.
ahuacate. a fruit, the alligator pear.
aje, or axe. an insect; a greasy mass, yielding a lacquer-like lustre.
alcalde. a town judge.
arbol. tree.
arriero. a convoyer of loaded mules or horses.
atole. a corn gruel.
autorizada. authorized, having authority.
axolotl. a water salamander, with peculiar life-history.
ayatl, or ayate. a carry-cloth.
barranca. a gorge, or gully.
bruja. witch.
brujería. witchcraft.
burro. ass.
cabecera. the head-town of a district.
cafe. coffee.
caiman. a reptile much like an alligator.
camarón. shrimp.
camisa. shirt.
cantera, cantero. a water-jar, or pitcher.
cargador. carrier.
carreta. cart.
carretero. a carter.
cascarón. an eggshell filled with bits of cut paper.
catalán. a wine, named from a Spanish town.
cenote. a cave with water.
centavo. a coin, the one-hundredth part of a peso; a cent.
chac mool. a stone figure, found at Chichen Itza, Yucatan.
chalupa. a boat-shaped crust with meat or vegetables in it.
chamara. a blanket for wearing.
champurrado. a mixture, as of atole and chocolate.
chapapote. chewing-gum.
chicha. an intoxicant made from sugar-cane.
chicle. chewing-gum.
chinampa. “floating garden,” a garden patch.
chirimiya. a shrill musical instrument, somewhat like a fife or flageolet.
chirimoya. the custard-apple.
cigarro. cigarette.
cincalótl, cincalote. granary.
clarín. a bird, with clear note.
cochero. coachman.
colorín. a tree.
comiteco. a spirits made at Comitan.
Conquista. Conquest.
copal. a gum, much used as incense.
coro. loft.
corral. an enclosure for animals.
costumbre. custom.
cotón, cotones. a man’s upper garment, a sort of poncho.
cuartel. barracks.
cuezcomátl, cuezcomate. granary.
cura. parish priest.
curato. parish house.
danza. dance.
doctrina. doctrine, catechism.
don. Mr., used only when the Christian name of a person is spoken.
dulce. sweet, sweetmeat.
dulcero. maker or seller of sweets.
dulceria. sweetmeat factory.
enagua. woman’s skirt.
enchilada. a fried tortilla with chili and cheese.
feria. fair.
fiesta. festival.
finca. farm, plantation.
firma. signature.
fiscal. fiscal
officer,
frijol, frijoles. bean, beans, golondrina. swallow, gramatica. grammar.
gringo. somewhat derisive term applied to foreigners, especially Americans.
guardia. guard.
hacienda. a country-place.
haciendado, haciendero. the owner of an hacienda.
hennequín. a plant producing fibre, sisal hemp.
hermita. a retired shrine.
herrería. smithy, forge, ironworks.
h’men. conjuror.
huehuetes. the old ones.
huehuetl, huehuete. the ancient upright drum.
huerfano. orphan.
huipíl, huipili. a woman’s waist garment.
huipilili. a woman’s waist garment, worn under the huipíl.
idioma. idiom, language.
incomunicado. solitary, not allowed communication.
itinerario. itinerary.
itztli. obsidian.
ixtli. fibre from the maguéy and cactus.
jacál. a hut.
jarabe. a popular dance.
jícara. a gourd-cup, or vessel.
jonote. a tree.
Jornada. a day’s march.
juez. judge.
ke’esh. a votive figure.
ladino. a mestizo, a person not Indian.
ladrón, ladrones. thief, thieves.
liana. vine.
licenciado. lawyer.
lima. a fruit, somewhat like an insipid orange.
lindas. pretty (girls).
llano. a grassy plain.
machete. a large knife.
maestro. teacher, a master in any trade.
maguéy. a plant, the century plant or agave, yielding pulque.
mai, pelico. tobacco, mixed with chili and lime.
malacátl, malacate. spindle-whorl.
malinche. malinche.
maméy. a fruit, orange flesh and brown exterior.
manta. cotton-cloth, a woman’s dress.
mañana. to-morrow.
mapachtl. a small animal, perhaps the raccoon or badger.
mapaho. beating-sticks, for cleaning cotton.
mayores. chiefs, village elders, police.
medio. six centavos.
meson. a house for travellers.
mescal. a spirits, made from an agave.
mestizo. a person of mixed blood.
metate. stone upon which corn is ground.
milagro. miracle.
milpa. cornfield.
mogote. a mound or tumulus.
mole. a stew, highly seasoned with chili.
mole prieto. black mole.
moral. a tree, mulberry.
mozo. a young man, a servant.
mudo. mute, dumb.
mulada. a mule train.
muñeco. doll, figure.
municipio. town, town-government, town-house.
nacimiento. an arrangement of figures and grotto-work, made at Christmastide.
nada. nothing.
naguál. conjuror.
negrito. (diminutive) negro.
nublina. mist, fog.
ocote. pine-tree, splinter of pine.
otro. other.
padre. father, priest.
padrecito. priest.
país. country, esp. one’s native town.
panela. sugar in cake or loaf.
papaya. a fruit.
pastorela. a drama relative to the Nativity.
pastores. shepherds.
patio. inside
court of house.
pelico, mai. tobacco, with chili and lime.
peso. a money denomination, one hundred centavos, one dollar.
petate. mat.
pinolillo. a species of tick.
pinto. a disease, spotted skin.
pita. a fibre.
pitero. a fifer.
pito. fife.
plaza. town square.
portales. a building with corridor in front.
posol, posole. corn prepared to carry on journey, for mixing with water.
prefecto. prefect.
presidente. president.
principales. principal men, councillors.
pueblito. small pueblo, village.
pulque. an intoxicant, made from maguéy sap.
quichiquemil. a woman’s upper garment.
rancho. a country-place.
ranchito. a small ranch.
rebozo. a woman’s garment, a wrap or light shawl.
regidor. alderman.
remedio. remedy.
sangre. blood.
santo, santito. saint.
señor. sir, gentleman.
señora. madam, lady.
señorita. Miss, young woman.
serape. a blanket, for wearing.
sindico. recorder.
soltero. an unmarried man.
sombrero. hat.
subida. ascent.
tabla. board.
tamales. dumplings of corn-meal.
tambour. drum.
tatita. papa.
tepache. a fermented drink.
teponastl, teponaste. the ancient horizontal drum.
tienda. store, shop.
tierra caliente. hot country.
tigre. tiger, jaguar.
tinaja. water-jar.
topil. a messenger or police.
toro. bull.
tortillas. corn-cakes, cooked on a griddle.
tortuga. turtle.
tsupakwa. dart-thrower.
ule. rubber.
vaca. cow.
vámonos. come on, we are going.
viejos. old.
vomito. yellow fever.
xalama. a tree.
xtól, xtoles. a dancer, or dancers (see Mérida, narrative).
zacate, sacate. hay, fodder.