mescal

American  

[me-skal] / mɛˈskæl /

noun

1. an intoxicating beverage distilled from the fermented juice of certain species of agave.

2. any agave yielding this spirit.

3. Also called peyote.  either of two species of spineless, dome-shaped cactus, Lophophora williamsii or L. diffusa, of Texas and northern Mexico, yielding the hallucinogen peyote.

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mescal British  

/ mɛˈskæl /

noun

1. Also called: peyote.  a spineless globe-shaped cactus, Lophophora williamsii, of Mexico and the southwestern US. Its button-like tubercles ( mescal buttons ) contain mescaline and are chewed by certain Indian tribes for their hallucinogenic effects

2. a colourless alcoholic spirit distilled from the fermented juice of certain agave plants

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Etymology

Origin of mescal

1695–1705, < Mexican Spanish mescal, mezcal, mexcal < Nahuatl mexcalli intoxicant distilled from agave (perhaps equivalent to me ( tl ) maguey + ( i ) xcalli something cooked)

Example Sentences

“In my opinion, there really is a consensus about what species is included in mescal bottles.”

From Scientific American • Mar. 8, 2023

From the family behind Fogon Cocina Mexicana comes the Capitol Hill bodega El Lugar and its 10-seat bar with tequila and mescal drinks along with tamales, ceviche and tostadas.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 1, 2022

She assembled the collection for the new property in the central Mexican travel hot spot using up-and-coming designers, lesser-known artisans and a cadre of small-batch mescal and botanical lotion producers.

From Washington Post • Jun. 20, 2019

There are more than 100 varieties of the plant, tens of which are used in mescal production, but most of which only grow in the wild.

From Slate • Dec. 12, 2016

But when Coyote came opposite to them, each was changed into a plant of the mescal, the sacred agave, which is both food and drink to the Indian.

From Indian Legends Retold by Eastman, Elaine Goodale