Ayacahuite

/ˌɑːjɑːkɑːˈwiːteɪ/ noun

Definition

A large pine tree native to Mexico with valuable lumber, also called Mexican white pine.

Etymology

From Nahuatl (Aztec language) 'ayacahuitl,' combining 'ayacatl' (spear) and 'cuahuitl' (tree), referring to the tree's tall, spear-like shape.

Kelly Says

When Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico, they encountered hundreds of plants with no European names, so they adopted the Nahuatl words—'ayacahuite' is a linguistic fossil of that collision.

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