acequia
Americannoun
plural
acequiasEtymology
Origin of acequia
1835–45, < Spanish < Arabic al-sāqiyah the irrigation ditch
Explanation
An acequia is a trench that's used to irrigate farmland. Acequias are common throughout the Americas, from Argentina to Colorado. The Spanish word acequia has an Arabic root, al-sāqiyah, "one that bears water." In parts of Mexico and Spain, irrigation canals have long been known as acequias. These watercourses, and the Spanish word for them, spread into parts of the U.S. that were once Spanish colonies. Some acequias still functioning today in Colorado and New Mexico were dug more than 400 years ago.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He turned a wheel that opened an acequia and flooded the field with clear, cold water.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2024
In Taos, acequia leaders have bumped up annual cleaning to the fall so they don’t miss out on early runoff.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 18, 2021
Once an acequia commissioner and now a U.S. congresswoman, Leger Fernández knows how hard it is to tell farmers they won’t get all the water they need — or maybe none at all.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 18, 2021
Traditionally, the acequia growing season in much of New Mexico had been from April to October.
From New York Times • Jul. 13, 2021
“Hey! You know the way?” he called as I jumped over the acequia.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
