monacillo

American  

[mon-uh-see-oh, maw-nah-see-yaw] / ˌmɒn əˈsi oʊ, ˌmɔ nɑˈsi yɔ /

noun

plural

monacillos

1. a low shrub, Malvaviscus arboreus, of tropical America, having scarlet flowers and berrylike fruit that is sticky when young.

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Etymology

Origin of monacillo

From Latin American Spanish (Mexico), Spanish: literally, “altar boy,” earlier monazillo, monaziello, from Vulgar Latin monachellus (unattested), equivalent to Late Latin monach(us) monk + -ellus diminutive suffix; see -elle