mesquite

English - English

Definition of mesquite in English English dictionary

a city (now a suburb of Dallas) in Texas

Any of several deciduous trees, of the genus Prosopis, found in North America and used as forage

Country or land dominated by mesquite trees

The wood of these trees, used for smoking food

any of several small spiny leguminous shrubs, of the genus Prosopis, found in the New World tropics and used as forage; the wood is used for smoking food

{i} any of several trees or shrubs that produce a sugary pod which is used as fodder for livestock; wood of the mesquite tree that is used in the preparation of smoked meats

A name for two trees of the southwestern part of North America, the honey mesquite, and screw-pod mesquite

any of several small spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Prosopis having small flowers in axillary cylindrical spikes followed by large sugar-rich pods

A hardwood tree indigenous to the American Southwest Mesquite it used in barbecuing and smoking foods It imparts a slightly sweet flavor to the meats

an American tree or bush, or the wood from it that is used to give food a special taste when cooking on a barbecue (mizquitl). Any of the spiny, deep-rooted shrubs or small trees that make up the genus Prosopis of the pea family (see legume). Mesquites form extensive thickets in areas from South America to the southwestern U.S. Two races occur: one of tall trees (50 ft [15 m]), the other low and far-reaching, called running mesquite. Water-seeking roots grow as deep as 70 ft (20 m). Stems bear compound olive-green to white hairy leaves, then dense, cream-coloured catkins of flowers, followed by clusters of long, narrow, pale yellow beans. In warmer parts of the U.S., mesquites are considered pests and are eradicated. Cattle eat the beans, which contain a sweet pulp. The wood, formerly used in railroad ties, now has value only for unusual furniture and trinkets and as aromatic firewood

A hardwood tree grown throughout the Southwest and Northern Mexico, mesquite wood is used in barbecueing and smoking foods Recipe: Mesquite SalmonAlso see: About the Mesquite Plant

A spiny deep-rooted leguminous tree or shrub that forms extensive thickets in the southwestern United States

Related Terms

mesquite bean

The pod or seed of the mesquite

mesquite gum

obtained from mesquite pods; resembles gum arabic

honey mesquite

thorny deep-rooted drought-resistant shrub native to southwestern United States and Mexico bearing pods rich in sugar and important as livestock feed; tends to form extensive thickets

mesquit

any of several small spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Prosopis having small flowers in axillary cylindrical spikes followed by large sugar-rich pods

mesquit

A name for two trees of the southwestern part of North America, the honey mesquite, and screw-pod mesquite

Hyphenation

Mes·quite

Turkish pronunciation

meskit

Pronunciation

/ˈmeˌskēt/ /ˈmɛˌskiːt/

Etymology

() Spanish mezquite, mizquite, from Nahuatl mizquitl.