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

C. redtenbacheri moths rely exclusively on agave plants for most of their life cycle, even as the local environment is changing and demand for mescal and agave alike are rising.

From Scientific American • Mar. 8, 2023

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

Its latest, north of Gas Works Park, is a casual Mexican bar restaurant, though it won’t resemble the same company’s popular mescal spot Barrio on Capitol Hill.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 31, 2017

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

For its size and complexion I know of nothing that is worthy to be mentioned in the same breath with mescal, unless it is the bald-faced hornet of the Sunny South.

From Roughing it De Luxe by McCutcheon, John T.