Definify.com
Definition 2024
tamal
tamal
See also: támal
English
Two tamales.
Noun
tamal (plural tamales or tamals)
- 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.
- 1911, Coffee and Tea Industries and the Flavor Field, Vol. 34, p. 497
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
Anagrams
Pipil
Etymology
From Proto-Uto-Aztecan *tɨma. Compare Classical Nahuatl tamalli (“tamale”)
Pronunciation
Noun
tamal (plural tajtamal)
- tortilla
- Nikwa ume tamal sejsenpa kwak nitakwa
- I eat two tortillas every time I have a meal
- Nikwa ume tamal sejsenpa kwak nitakwa
See also
- tashkal (tortilla made of tender corn)
Spanish
Alternative forms
- tamale (dialectal)
Etymology
From Classical Nahuatl tamalli.
Noun
tamal m (plural tamales)
- (Central America, Mexico) tamal, tamale
- (Central America, Mexico) bundle, clumsy package
- (Central America, Mexico) embroilment, imbroglio