tamal

English

Two tamales.

Etymology

From Spanish tamal, from Nahuatl tamalli (“wrapped”).

Noun

tamal (plural tamales)

1. Alternative form of tamale (Mexican food dish).
   • 1911, Coffee and Tea Industries and the Flavor Field, Vol. 34, p. 497

     I fully recognize the excellence of the tamal of the gringos. It is a superb standby for picknickers, prospectors, camping-outers, school children, and factory lunches.

   • 2000, Bruce Geddes, Mexico, p.43

     Someone from Campeche may brag about a tamal made there with a salsa of guajillo chiles, axiote (a regional spice), jitomate...

   • 2007, Robin S. Goldstein, Fearless Critic Houston Restaurant Guide: Brutally Honest Undercover Chefs and Food Writers Rate More Than 400 Places to Eat, page 314

     Ask for Salvadoran crema to accompany whichever you choose; it's thick and somewhat akin to sour cream, and you'll get that much more pleasure from your tamal.

Usage notes

The form tamal is preferred by some to tamale, as tamal is the Standard Spanish singular form while tamale is generally analyzed as a back-formation from the plural tamales, thus proscribed. Note however that tamale exists in Spanish dialect.

Synonyms

• tamale

Anagrams

• Malta, malta

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Cahuilla

Noun

támal (plural támlem)

1. mouth
2. tooth

Derived terms

• tamakéñish

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Guugu Yimidhirr

Noun

tamal

1. Alternative spelling of dhamal.

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Pipil

Noun

tamal

1. A tortilla.

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Spanish

Alternative forms

• tamale (dialectal)

Wikipedia ^es

Etymology

From Classical Nahuatl tamalli (“something wrapped”).

Noun

tamal m (plural tamales)

1. (Central America, Mexico) tamal, tamale
2. (Central America, Mexico) bundle, clumsy package
3. (Central America, Mexico) embroilment, imbroglio

Synonyms

• (embroilment, imbroglio): embrollo m, lío m

Related terms

• nacatamal
• nixtamal

See also

• hallaca
• huma, humita

Descendants

• English: tamal