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milpa

[mil-puh]
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noun
  1. (in certain tropical regions) a tract of land cleared from the jungle, usually by burning, farmed for a few seasons, and then abandoned.
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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. 2018

Examples from the Web for milpa

Historical Examples

  • At Sanact are two buildings, which stand in a milpa, or cornfield.

    The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume IV

    Hubert Howe Bancroft

  • Milpa: A word used in Central America for a small farm or clearing.

    Inca Land

    Hiram Bingham

  • The first work undertaken by the twins was the clearing of a milpa or cornfield.

  • The agente rode with us in the morning quite a league upon our road, to a place which he was clearing for a milpa.

  • Milpa roza is, literally, field cleared of underbrush and ready for planting.