tamale

¹ American  

[tuh-mah-lee] / təˈmɑ li /

noun

1. a Mexican dish made of minced and seasoned meat packed in cornmeal dough, wrapped in corn husks, and steamed.

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Tamale ² American  

[tuh-mah-lee] / təˈmɑ li /

noun

1. a city in N Ghana.

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tamale British  

/ təˈmɑːlɪ /

noun

1. a Mexican dish made of minced meat mixed with crushed maize and seasonings, wrapped in maize husks and steamed

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Etymology

Origin of tamale

1605–15, construed as singular of Mexican Spanish tamales, plural of tamal < Nahuatl tamalli

Example Sentences

“This phrase appears several times, and is ridiculous because Martin hails from Puerto Rico, where the local cuisine includes neither chili peppers nor tamales, both of which come from Mexico.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Schodorfs said ICE agents recently grabbed a neighborhood fixture — a guy who sells tamales.

From Los Angeles Times

She has witnessed immigration agents detaining street vendors selling tamales, chicharrónes and empanadas.

From BBC

She sets it on the table and unloads containers filled with tamales and rice and beans and chips and salsa.

From Literature

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales".

From BBC