mesquite

noun

mes·​quite mə-ˈskēt 

me-

: any of several spiny leguminous trees or shrubs (genus Prosopis and especially P. glandulosa) chiefly of the southwestern U.S. that often form extensive thickets and have sweet pods eaten by livestock

also : the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food

Illustration of mesquite

• 1 flower and leaves
• 2 pod

Examples of mesquite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The beef and chicken kabob skewers were juicy and bursting with herb and spice flavors, such as onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, and paprika, with a mesquite finish. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025

The whiskey features aromas of mesquite, molasses, roasted corn, and saddle leather. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025

So my classmates and I massaged black lime and wild mesquite into the bitter frisée. —Karen Yuan, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2025

Directional lighting picks out paintings and sculpture, but also two benches hewn from mesquite and backed by the instantly recognizable Tracy grillwork. —Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from Nahuatl mizquitl

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mesquite

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

mesquite

noun

mes·​quite mə-ˈskēt 

me-

: a thorny deep-rooted tree or shrub of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that belongs to the legume family, produces pods rich in sugar, and is important as food for livestock

also : the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food

Geographical Definition

Mesquite

geographical name

Mes·​quite mə-ˈskēt 

me-

city in northeastern Texas east of Dallas population 139,824