metate
[ muh-tah-tee; Spanish me-tah-te ]
noun,plural me·ta·tes [muh-tah-teez; Spanish me-tah-tes]. /məˈtɑ tiz; Spanish mɛˈtɑ tɛs/.
a flat stone that has a shallow depression in the upper surface for holding maize or other grains to be ground with a mano.
Origin of metate
11825–35, Americanism;<Mexican Spanish <Nahuatl metlatl
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use metate in a sentence
An abundance of metates, or corn-stones, of a shape not now usual in the neighborhood were exhibited.
The Battle and the Ruins of Cintla | Daniel G. BrintonDitto, or rubbing-stone, used in connection with fine metates for for grinding corn meal.
Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained | James StevensonWe found, besides, a few cores of felsite and some shapeless flakes and several fragments of large metates.
Unknown Mexico, Volume 1 (of 2) | Carl LumholtzNear one of the group of houses I saw three metates in an excellent state of preservation.
Unknown Mexico, Volume 1 (of 2) | Carl LumholtzIn larger open apartments undivided by buttress or pier, the metates are usually built in or near one corner.
A Study of Pueblo Architecture: Tusayan and Cibola | Victor Mindeleff and Cosmos Mindeleff
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