A deep gorge or ravine with steep sides, particularly common in Mexico and the southwestern United States.
From Spanish barranca, possibly derived from Basque baranca meaning 'slope' or 'ravine'. The word entered English through southwestern North American usage and Spanish colonial geography.
The word barranca itself is native—it comes from Basque, Europe's mystery language, showing how even deep gorges in the Americas carry linguistic clues from far older European roots.
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