milpa

[mil-puh]

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. 2018

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 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 Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 5
Hubert 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 Yucatan
Santiago Mendez