1605–15, construed as singular of Mexican Spanish tamales, plural of tamal < Nahuatl tamalli
The tamale is a popular food in Mexican cuisine, made of cornmeal dough that's filled with meat or cheese and wrapped in a cornhusk before being steamed. If you have the chance, you should definitely try some tamales. Traditionally, the cornhusk (or banana leaf) wrapper was used as a plate for eating the warm tamale, and these delicious savory treats are often still eaten this way today. The starchy masa (or cornmeal) that's used in tamales becomes firm after being steamed, and this makes it a perfect portable meal. The word tamale comes from the Mexican Spanish tamal, which has a Nahuatl root, tamalli, meaning "wrapped."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anguish colored the faces of Maria's son and another daughter, age 16, as they stepped in to continue running the tamale cart in the very spot where their mother was taken into custody.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2025
In the wake of the audio leak scandal, the incumbent wrapped himself in latinidad like a tamale snug inside a corn husk — and he still lost.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2024
It happened in 2003, involving a police captain, a civil rights attorney, a councilman, a deli owner and a tamale maker, among others.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2024
Dig into tamale waffles, topped with shredded beef and two eggs or rich, cheesy shrimp and grits.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 1, 2024
He lives with his mother, a tamale maker, in a tiny wooden shack.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
Superman used to go after Nazis, Klansmen and intergalactic monsters; now, Superman — er, Cain — wants to go after Tamale Lady.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2025
The Brown Derby restaurant didn’t sell derbies, but The Tamale, on Whittier Blvd. in East L.A., sold tamales, and the trade of Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood is unmistakably doughnuts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2025
As Mahama's supporters celebrated his victory, Belinda Amuzu - a teacher in the northern city of Tamale, a stronghold of Mahama - summed up their hopes.
From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2024
For catering, she hired Tamale My Life, which she chose for its solid vegetarian options.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 15, 2024
Spurring his mount into an easy canter he swept down to and across the river, fording it where he had crossed it when pursuing Tamale Jose.
From Hopalong Cassidy's Rustler Round-Up by Mulford, Clarence Edward
Where they do the farmers market, there’s an amazing tamale stand that does these chicken and green chile tamales.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
She has witnessed immigration agents detaining street vendors selling tamales, chicharrónes and empanadas.
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026
Never mind all the newborns rolled out and swaddled like Christmas tamales, or the forceps deliveries that resemble tooth extractions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 23, 2025
One minute Maria was selling tamales from her food cart in Chicago's West Side.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2025
They sold hot dogs, chili dogs, and tamales for a dime each, soda for a nickel.
From "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal" by Eric Schlosser
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
