tamale

noun

ta·​ma·​le tə-ˈmä-lē 

: cornmeal dough rolled with ground meat or beans seasoned usually with chili, wrapped usually in corn husks, and steamed

Examples of tamale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Their bricks-and-mortar space opened in June, catering to loyal followers, who remember their Italian beef tamales from their pop-up days, and newcomers alike. —Lauryn Azu, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025

Also representing Guatemala is a tamal, which unlike a typical corn tamale is sweet and doesn’t have a meat filling. —David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2025

Trees heavy with fruits that ripen through the color spectrum as winter progresses are as much a Southern California holiday tradition as tamales and the Rose Parade. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

The comments are a hoot Fire and Braids named The Republic's best tamale in metro Phoenix. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish tamales, plural of tamal tamale, from Nahuatl tamalli steamed cornmeal dough

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

tamale

noun

ta·​ma·​le tə-ˈmäl-ē 

: cornmeal dough rolled with ground meat or beans seasoned usually with chili, wrapped in corn husks, and steamed

Geographical Definition

Tamale

geographical name

Ta·​ma·​le tä-ˈmä-lā 

town in northern Ghana population 371,351