Chiapas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state in the far south of Mexico, bordering Guatemala and the Pacific, known for its mountainous terrain and Indigenous communities
2. A southernmost Mexican region along the Guatemalan border and the Pacific coast, noted for its highlands and diverse Mayan populations
3. An state of southern Mexico that borders Guatemala, featuring rugged mountains, a long Pacific coastline and a large Indigenous population

Etymology: Chiapas is the name of a Mexican state, and its name came into English straight from Spanish, where it was already the name of the region. The state's name is a Spanish form of an older place name, and the word has stayed attached to the land it describes rather than taking on any wider meanings. Its history in English is therefore simply that of a geographic name borrowed without change.