talpatate

noun

tal·​pa·​ta·​te
variants or talpetate
ˌtälpəˈtätē
plural -s
1
: a rock of superficial origin formed by the cementing action of calcium carbonate on sand, soil, or volcanic ash and equivalent in part to caliche or calcrete
2
: rather poor thin soil consisting of partly decomposed volcanic ash more or less consolidated

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish tepetate, talpetate, from Nahuatl tepetatl, from tetl stone + petatl mat

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Dictionary Entries Near talpatate

Cite this Entry

“Talpatate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talpatate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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