Zacate

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /zəˈkɑːteɪ/

Definitions

1. An herbaceous plant of the grass family, often called "bunchgrass," that typically grows in arid regions and is known for its dense growth
2. A type of grass providing forage for livestock, found in various parts of Latin America
3. A term commonly associated with grazing lands or meadows characterized by the presence of this robust grass species

Etymology: Spanish speakers in Mexico took this word from the Aztec language Nahuatl, where "zacatl" meant dry weeds or grass, used especially as fodder for animals. The Spanish word "zacate" kept that practical sense: plants gathered to feed livestock. It then spread to the Philippines, where Spanish was used for centuries, and the word there retained the same meaning. The Nahuatl word itself traces back to a much older root in the Uto-Aztecan language family, a group spoken across western North America, so the word is far older than the Spanish conquest of Mexico. English speakers in the American Southwest and Mexico encounter it mostly in the same agricultural sense, as the grass that feeds cattle and horses.