milpa
[mil-puh]
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noun
(in certain tropical regions) a tract of land cleared from the jungle, usually by burning, farmed for a few seasons, and then abandoned.
Origin of milpa
1835–45, Americanism; < Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl mīlpan, equivalent to mīl(li) cultivated field + -pan locative suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for milpa
Historical Examples of milpa
At Sanact are two buildings, which stand in a milpa, or cornfield.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume IVHubert Howe Bancroft
Milpa: A word used in Central America for a small farm or clearing.
Inca LandHiram Bingham
The first work undertaken by the twins was the clearing of a milpa or cornfield.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 5Hubert Howe Bancroft
The agente rode with us in the morning quite a league upon our road, to a place which he was clearing for a milpa.
In Indian Mexico (1908)Frederick Starr
Milpa roza is, literally, field cleared of underbrush and ready for planting.
Reports on the Maya Indians of YucatanSantiago Mendez