chinampa

[ chi-nam-puh ]

/ tʃɪˈnæm pə /

noun

(in Mesoamerica) a long and narrow floating field on a shallow lake bed, artificially built up by layering soil, sediment, and decaying vegetation and used, especially by the Aztecs, to grow crops.

Words nearby chinampa

china, china, chinaberry, chinagraph, chinaman, chinaman's chance, chinampa, chinan, chinandega, chinatown, chinaware, chinbeak

Origin of chinampa

1830–40; < Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl < chinamitl area enclosed by canes + pa on

Examples from the Web for chinampa

In the quiet and perfumed shade of the chinampa he rested, and soothed the fever of his wound.
The Fair God|Lew Wallace
Viewed from a distance, the chinampa looked like an island of flowers.
The Fair God|Lew Wallace
The chinampa, at its anchorage, swung lightly, like an Indian cradle pendulous in the air.
The Fair God|Lew Wallace
Besides that, he killed or wounded near a score of chinampa owners, and set their canoes adrift.
The White Conquerors|Kirk Munroe

A chinampa was a floating island in the lake of Tezcuco, upon whose very bosom the imperial city was built.
Sketches of Aboriginal Life|V. V. Vide