mesquite

Everyday

1. A spiny shrub or small tree of the pea family that grows in deserts and dry lands of the south-western USA and Mexico, with long seed pods. tree →
2. The wood of this tree, used to give a smoky flavour to barbecued food. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and science lessons about deserts, mesquite is a desert survivor: its roots can go very deep (sometimes over 50 metres) to reach water. Native peoples ground its pods into flour. In cooking, «mesquite-grilled» food is cooked over mesquite wood. In Australia, mesquite was brought in and is now a harmful weed. Phrases: «mesquite tree», «mesquite smoke».

Examples

• Mesquite trees grow in the deserts of Mexico and the USA. tree →
• Mesquite roots reach deep underground for water. tree →
• The barbecue was flavoured with mesquite wood. tree →
• Native Americans made flour from mesquite pods. tree →
• Cattle eat mesquite pods in dry seasons. tree →
• In Australia, mesquite is a weed that spreads quickly. tree →
• The desert road was lined with thorny mesquite. tree →
• Mesquite-smoked chicken has a strong flavour. tree →

Note

Countable for trees, uncountable for the wood. Pronounced «mes-KEET». A loanword from Spanish, from the Aztec language Nahuatl. Not a maths word.