A
abra from abrir, (to open), a narrow pass between hills, a narrow valley.
acequia - irrigation ditch, canal; acequia madre meaning main irrigation - an irrigation canal.
acion - stirrup leather.
adios - goodbye. literal translation - "to God."
adobe - brick made of clay, water and available straw or grass baked in the sun used to construct all manner of buildings where wood was in short supply.
agarita - wild currant. Food and Drink
agregado - a farm hand.
agrito - term applied to a variety of thorn bushes from which can be made a delicious jelly.
aguardiente - term applied to a number of liquors such as brandy, whiskey, and "high octane" tequila derived from the Mexican cactus plan called maguey. Food and Drink
alameda - from alamo - cottonwood tree, grove of trees sometimes along an avenue.
alamo - cottonwood tree,. A word from which many names are derived, e.g., Alamogordo, (big tree), Alamosa, (tree'd), Los Alamos, (the cottonwood trees), and the Alamo, (the cottonwood tree), a Spanish mission fort in San Antonio, Texas.
albondigas - meatballs; served with spaghetti or as an appetizer. Food and Drink
alcalde title applied to the town mayor, but sometimes the judge, or chief of police.
alfalfa - from Arabic al-fasfasah, good fodder.
alforja - saddlebag
algarroba - honey mesquite.
algodon - - cotton, sometimes referred to cottonwood tree.
alla - "over there, yonder."
alligator - from "el lagarto."
amansador - a horse tamer.
amigo - friend.
amole - from Nahuatl also ammole, amolli - a plant from which soap can be made, such as the yucca root.
Anglo - a person not of Spanish or Indian descent.
angoras - Chaps made from goat hide with wool left on the outside.
anquera - from Spanish and Mexican saddle style, the rear leather piece over the horses' rump which varies greatly in size and use
ante - from the Spanish word antes meaning before. To get in the poker game you had to "ante-up" before (antes) having cards or a hand dealt to you; also meaning pay up or to hand something over.
aparejo - Mexican pack saddle.
aperitivo appetizer re Food and Drink
appola - the sticks on which small pieces of meat were roasted over an open fire, (Matthews, 1951). Food and Drink
arancel - aransel, - an import tax.
arciones - stirrup-leathers.
argolla del enteador - the ring of the saddle rigging straps.
armas - the predecessor of chaps, leather flaps attached to saddle to protect riders legs.
armitas half-chaps riding apron just below the tops of the old Spanish high boots fastened around the legs.
arriero - muleteer, a mule driver.
arroba - Spanish measurement of weight, about 10 kilos used to weigh Corriente or Long Horn cattle.
arroyo - a gully or wash where water runs only when raining; dry most of the year, and also used as trails or horseback roadways.
arroz rice. Food and Drink
atole 1. from Nahuatl for blue corn meal/porridge/gruel served as a beverage with sugar. Food and Drink
2. A family surname to a clan/member of the Jicarrilla Apache Indians, NM.
avocado - from Spanish "de aguacate." Food and Drink
B
baile - a dance
bajada - down slope of a hill.
bamoose - corrupted Spanish for "vamos," meaning, "let's go."
banco - a sandbank
band - a bunch of horses, wild or in remuda.
bandana - the neckerchief of a cowboy
bandera - flag
bandido - a bandit
barbacoa - barbecue, derived from barba (beard) of the kid goat and cueva (cave)- pit cooked kid goat Food and Drink
barboquejo - (stampede string), chin strap for hat strong enough for the wind, but not so strong so as to choke the wearer.
barranca - 1. a steep wide of a ravine or arroyo
2. a bluff.
barriguera - cinch
basto/baste - a pad or skirt of a saddle.
bayo - a bay horse dun or smokey color.
belduque - a large knife and blade.
biscochitos - Anise-flavored cookies, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Food and Drink
bisonte bison
bodega - - grocery store/liquor store.
bolero - original Spanish style vaquero hat known today as the Santa Fe style.
bolo tie - from the Spanish bolas, boleadoras, two balled weights at the end of a forked rope, the gauchos,' (cowboys') equivalent of the lariat; a cord tie held together with a concha (shell, in modern times a silver concha) or a turquoise stone.
bonanza - prosperity or success.
bosque - a grove of trees or woodland
brasada - brush country
brida - bridle
briza wind, breeze.
bronc - an unbroken horse or a cow horse.
bronc buster - breaker of wild horses.
brujo - a wizard
bufalo - American bison, buffalo.
buñelo - fry bread, also sopapilla served with icing or dipped in cinnamon and sugar. Food and Drink
burrito - flour tortilla filled with beans, meat, cheese, or potatoes, served with a chilli/salsa garnished with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Food and Drink
burro - donkey
buscadero - someone who seeks, usually applied to lawmen.
C
caballada - a band of saddle horses. Also remuda, cavallard, cavy (or cavvy).
caberos - from cabestro or halter.
cabestro - original horse hair halter.
cabeza del fuste - the head of the saddle tree.
cabrie - pronghorn antelope.
cabrón - a male goat. As ¡Cabrón! = bastard!
cacao cocoa .
cacique - a village leader usually applied to Indian Pueblo clan heads.
cafeteria eating place.
calabaza - pumpkin, squash, related vegetables. Hence calabash Food and Drink
calabozo - jail. Hence calaboze.
calaveras - skulls or skull location
calzoneras - pants split on the outside of the leg showing white under leggings.
cama - bed, or bed roll
camino real - the original public roadway established by the Spanish Crown, literally meaning, the royal road. Crimes committed on the Royal roads were punished more severely.
campana - pommel
canada - a valley or canyon
canelo - from "canela," meaning cinnamon color in horses.
cañon - canyon
cantina - canteen, or a saloon or embibing waterhole.
cantle - the rear back bracing part of a saddle.
capirotada - sweet bread pudding with cinnamon, raisins, nuts, and cheese. Food and Drink
capon - a gelded horse
caponera - a group of gelded horses
caporal . - boss or foreman, ranch manager.
carajo! - an expletive meaning darn, shucks and the like.
carina - sweetheart, honey
carne meat Food and Drink
carne asada - Mexican brazier-cooked meat. Food and Drink
carne molida - ground beef. Food and Drink
carrera del gallo - rooster race
carreta - the original wagon with two wheels drawn by oxen, camp cart.
cartucho - a bullet cartridge.
casa - house
cascabel - a rattle, a rattlesnake, a jingle-bob.
cattalo - cross between domestic cattle and buffalo.
cavallero - a Spanish gentleman, noble equestrian (knight), upper-class cowboy.
cavallo - a horse.
caverango - original Spanish word for wrangler. Caverango became corrupted 'wrango' which in English eventually became 'wrangler'. A caverango (wrangler) is generally a young inexperienced hand who tended horses, (remudero), on a cattle drive.
cavraces - (caberos), a hair rope.
cayuse - an Indian pony.
cenizo - ash colored.
cerro - a hill.
chalupa - boat-shaped fried corn tortilla filled with beans, cheese, & lettuce. Food and Drink
chamisa - rabbitbrush, a silver-blue, narrow-leaved, deciduous shrub, 3-5 ft. tall & wide with pungent, yellow flowers in fall.
chamisal - thicket of chamisa
chaparral - thick bramble bushes entangled with thorny shrubs in clumps, small scrub oaks, a small thicket of scrub oak.
chaparreras, chaparajos, chaparejos - leather leggings to protect horsemen frombrush and cacti. Corrupted to 'chaps' in English.
chaparro - evergreen oak tree or a small boy
chapenton/concha - metal rosette used to secure saddle leather together.
chaqueta - the original word for jacket.
charqui corrupted to 'jerky' in English .
charro - a gentleman equestrian
Chicano - from Mexican word originally spelled Mechicano used to refer to a wider spectrum of Southwest people of Hispanic origin.
chicharrones - cracklings made from pork fat with some meat attached. Food and Drink
chicos - dried sweet corn kernels that are fire roasted.Food and Drink
chile caribe - red chile pods ground and blended with water. Food and Drink
chile on queso - chile with cheese; served as a dip with tostados. Food and Drink
chile pequin - thin hot red chiles Food and Drink
chile relleno - stuffed chilli, green chile stuffed with cheese, dropped in egg batter, and fried. Food and Drink
chile, chili - hot spicy peppers integral to the cuisine of the vaquero; chile Colorado red chile, chile verde green chile. Food and Drink
chimichanga - fried burrito stopped with salsa and or sour cream. Food and Drink
chince - bed bug hence chinch bug.
chorizo - highly seasoned Mexican pork sausage. Food and Drink
chuleta - pork chop with red chile sauce. Food and Drink
churro - the hardy breed of sheep introduced by the Spanish and responsible for changing the way of live of Navajos from wild nomadic to sheepherders.
cibolo - a buffalo .
cienaga - a swampy marsh.
cigarito - a cigarette
cincha - the saddle girth or cinch
cocinero - a cook (cowboy slang coosie ) '
coleador - a horseman who throws a bull by twisting its tail
colear - from Spanish infinitive, "cola" meaning tail, colear meant to throw an animal by the tail.
colear - to throw a running bull by twisting its tail
Comanceros - mestizos who lived wild and as go betweens for Comanche Indians and Anglos.
comarron - wild.
comino cumin (spice)
compadre - a godfather, also used as a reference to anyone considered a partner.
companero - buddy/companion.
concha(o) - 1. Shell
2. a silver ornament used to decorate all manner of leather gear.
condor the term for two species of vulture
conquistador - 15th century soldier who conquered lands for Spain.
contraenreatado - latigo
corcho - cork
corn tortilla - flat bread cooked on a griddle made from yellow or blue corn. Food and Drink
corona 1. Crown
2. a type of blanket.
corral - a livestock pen.
corrida - from the Spanish infinitive correr, to run - a hunt, chase or bullfight.
corrido - Mexican folksong
cougar - from gatomonte (mountain lion) to cata mount - to cougar.
coyote - from the Nahualtl coyotl - a prairie wolf.
cristianos - Catholics, civilized people of European decent.
cuarta - quirt, a horse whip.
cucaracha - cockroach .
cuidado - Look out!
cuna - leather cradle used for carrying wood on a wagon.
D
desjarretadera - a hocking knife with curved steel blade attached to the end of a 12' pole used to hamstring cattle's hind leg before killing the animal for butchering.
dicho - a saying or proverb.
dinero - money
dogal - doggie, a motherless calf, (also a nose halter).
duena - chaperone, usually an older and fierce woman.
dueno - owner.
E
enchilada - covered in chile , Mexican dish. Corn tortillas servied rolled or flat filled with ground beef and or cheese, onions, and covered with chile and a variety of toppings. Food and Drink
encino - oak.
encomendero - holder of an encomienda, a royal land grant including everything on the land.
enveatados - rigging straps
espuelas - spurs.
estampida - stampede , the mass bolting of a herd of animals.
estradiota - old Spanish war saddle.
estribo - stirrup iron.
estufa - stove.
F
faja - a sash worn around the waist.
fandango - a lively dance.
fiador 'guarantor', in Mexico and SW the bridle strap, sometimes corrupted into English to "theodore."
flan - a baked custard with caramel sauce. Food and Drink
flauta 1. Flute
2. fried version of a taco, rolled thin, dipped in sour cream or guacamole.Food and Drink
flour tortilla - flat bread cooked on a griddle made with flour. Food and Drink
fracaso noisy disturbance, quarrel; hence fracas (pronounced "fray-cuss")
freno - a horse's bit.
frijoles beans Food and Drink
fuste - the pommel part of a saddle tree.
G
gamuza - soft buckskin leather used for making moccasins.
garrocha - long pole used to prod cattle
gato monte mountain cat, cougar
gorditas - masa stuffed with seasoned meat and fried. Food and Drink
gringo - from griego meaning Greek but used to refer to all non-Indian strangers or newcomers, foreigners.
grulla - a crane, which is a dark gray color hence becomes a term applied to horses of the same dark grey
guacamole - avocado dip Food and Drink
guajilla - Nahuatl for a small guard.
guia - a guide; vernacular - a pass/manifest for safe passage.
H
hacendado - the owner of a substantial hacienda or estate.
hacienda - a large ranch or estate.
harina flour Food and Drink
hediondilla - a creosote bush.
herrar - to brand or mark with a hot iron.
hidalgo - a nobleman of Spanish descent.
hoja 1. a leaf
2. a corn-chuck used as cigarette paper.
hombre - man.
hombre del campo - a rugged outdoorsman.
hondo 1. the hole or slip ring end of the rope used to catch the animal.
2. meaning deep, used to refer to deep places like a deep arroyo.
horno - outdoor oven, made of adobe and beehive shaped. Introduced to the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors, adopted by the Spanish and brought to the new world.
huevos rancheros - ranch-style eggs, served with tortillas and salsa. Food and Drink
huraches sandals
I
J
jacal - a primitive hut or shelter.
jaquima - a headstall, bridle. Corrupted into the English 'hackamore'.
jineta - leather saddle style suited to speed and maneuverability introduced to Spain by Moors and brought to Americas by Spanish colonists.
jinete - an excellent horseman, originally from the Moorish jineta saddle riders who introduced la jineta to the Spanish in the 15th century.
jornado - a journey.
juzgado - court which sentenced one to jail. Hence 'hoosegow' for jail or prison
K
L
ladino - a wild Corriente (Longhorn).
ladron - a thief
latigo - a strap that attaches saddle rigging to the cinch.
lazo - a rope hence lasso
leche milk Food and Drink
lepero - a gross or vulgar person.
llano - the flats or prairie lands.
lobo - a wolf.
loco - crazy, insane.
loco weed - astragalus, a plant with purple or white flowers when eaten drives animals crazy.
loma - a hill.
M
machete - a long chopping knife. Derives from diminutive of Spanish 'macho' - ax club, mace.
macho - literally means a male as opposed to female, "la hembra."
mal pais - bad country, badlands.
maleta - saddle bag
manada - bunch of mare horses with a stallion.
manana - tomorrow, later.
manga - a poncho cloak; modern Spanish a shirt sleeve.
mangana - forefooting - roping an animal by its front feet.
mano - a human hand, also short for brother hermano - her-mano.
mantilla - a scarf or head-shawl worn by women.
manzana - apple or horn of a saddle.
marihuana - marijuana
marrano - pig, During the time when Spain was under Moorish rule, between 711A.D. and 1492, the word for pig more with greater frequency came to be known as Marrano , the etymology of which evolved from an Arabic root meaning prohibited thing, or outsider.
mas alla - further over there.
masa - dough made of dried ground corn and lime water. Food and Drink
masa harina - dough made of a dried mix to which water is added. Food and Drink
matanza - the slaughtering of livestock, a killing of an animal.
mayordomo - a ranch foreman.
mecate - a hair rope.
mechero - a fire making tool. Also machero
menudo - in New Mexico, pork skins used in posole, each pueblo (town) has its own specialty generally a mixture of tripe, stew meat, chile, and local ingredients. Food and Drink
mesa - a plateau of land, literally a table top.
mescal - word used to refer to liquor obtained from the form the maguey/agave plant. Food and Drink
mesquital - a thicket of mesquite
mesquite - a small tree or large bush which grows in southern New Mexico to California.
Mesta - a stockmen's association first organized by the Spanish in Mexico, (New Spain), June 16, 1529.
mesteno - a mustang; from "Mesta."
mestizo - someone of Spanish and Indian ancestry.
metate - a hollowed stone (morter) used to grind corn, grain, and nuts used with a mano (pestle)
Mexican standoff - a no-win conflict circumstance where neither side will back down; taken from the time of the Mexican Comancheros who were extremely fierce, wild rugged, and would not back down from a fight no matter the odds.
miel - honey Food and Drink
mochila - a loose leather covering for original saddles when saddle trees were covered only with rawhide.
mollete - anise bread Food and Drink
morral - a feed bag.
mosquito - diminutive for Spanish word mosca (fly), "de mosquito."
muchacho - boy.
mujer - a woman or wife.
mulada - a herd of mules.
mulero - a muleteer - one who tends pack animals.
N
nachos - tostados topped with cheese and green chile baked, served as an appetizer Food and Drink
naja - a small decoration hanging from the headband of a bridle onto the horses face.
natilla - pudding sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg. Food and Drink
nuece - pecan nut Food and Drink
O
ocotillo - a stick like cactus.
ojo - meaning eye; in the west used to refer to a spring of water.
orejanos - wild cattle, slick eared or unbranded.
P
pa hablar - to talk or discuss. Hence 'palaver'
padre - father or Catholic priest
paloma - dove, paloma blanca (white dove).
palomino - palomill or cream colored horse with white tail.
panocha - unrefined brown sugar, candy. Food and Drink
pansaje - a social meal in the open air. Not quite a picnic, more a barbeque including groaning tables and animals roasted whole; like a "matanza" in New Mexico. Food and Drink
parade - from parda, a main herd of cattle on a drive.
partida - a subsection or band of men or animals.
pasear - to walk or stroll.
paseo - a walk or ride.
paso - a walk, step, pass-safe passage.
paso de la muerte - to ride bareback on a wild horse or bull
pastelitos - little pies that are served in square portions Food and Drink
pastor - a sheepherder.
patata - potato Food and Drink
patio - courtyard.
patron - the boss or owner.
pedregal - a stony place.
pelado - peeling off, hairless, stripped of possessions.
peon - peasant.
pequeno nin - little child, hence picaninny
perilla - a pear shaped saddle horn.
periqito - parakeet
pial - a rope thrown underhanded right back of the front legs under the belly of the running quarry, the loop opening ups so that the hind legs stepped into it
piale - underhand rope throw that catches the animals hind legs.
piloncilla - brown sugar cone - candy. Food and Drink
pinole - corn flour mixed with sweetened flour from mesquite bean.Food and Drink
pinon - a dwarf pine nut tree. Roasted, the nuts are delicious. Food and Drink
pita - fiber obtained from plants to make ropes, bags, and baskets.
plaza town square .
poco - little.
poco pronto - Right now!
pollo chicken Food and Drink
poncho - a blanket with a hole in the middle used to keep warm.
poncho - de poncho.
posole - traditional New Mexican stew made with hominy-corn kernels, pork loin, garlic, oregano, onion salt red chile treated with lime. Food and Drink
potro - a colt or untamed horse.
presidio - a Spanish fort
pretal - breast band.
pronto - right away, now!
pueblo - a village or town, in New Mexico, Pueblo refers to anyone of the Pueblo Indian tribes.
pulqueria - a liquor store.
Q
quelitas - spinach mixed with pinto beans, bacon, crushed red chile pods. Food and Drink
querencia - to love, as in loving the land whence you came.
querida sweetheart, darling
queso cheese Food and Drink
quien sabe - who knows?
quirt - from cuerda cord, horsewhip.
R
ramada - a shelter constructed from brush.
rancheria - a camp settlement.
ranchero - a rancher.
rancho - the land upon which stock was raised
rayar - a horse stepping contest
reata - rawhide rope, anglicized "la reata" to "lariat."
rebozo - a head and shoulder shawl worn by women.
refrito - literally refried; refried beans that are cooked, mashed and refried. Food and Drink
remuda - saddle horses or a ranch or cattle drive.
remudero - a wrangler, young man, or boy who cared for the horse herd.
ristra - a string of chiles. Food and Drink
rodaja - a pointed rowel star at the end of the spur which rolls as the rider's boot heel rakes the horse.
rodeo - from Spanish word, "rodear," to encircle the herd; later meaning a cowboy skill contest.
rosaderos - saddle fenders.
S
salea - a soft sheepskin placed between a horses back and saddle blanket, (P. Watts).
salsa - de salsa, chile sauce made with fresh chile, tomatoes and onions. Food and Drink
salsa pequin - very hot salsa made with chile pequin sometimes labeld taco sauce. Food and Drink
salsa rancherita - thick sause (salsa chile) made with onions, green chile, tomatoes, and seasonings. Food and Drink
sandia watermelon Food and Drink
santo - a saint or image of same.
sarape - a heavy shawl or small blanket sometimes with fringes at ends.
sasafras - - medicinal herb (English sassafras) used in soap or tea.
save - to know, infinitive form "saber." Hence savvy.
sendero - a clearing for walking
senor - Sir or mister.
sierra - a mountain range or serrated/jagged mountain top.
siesta - nap taken early to mid day, by those whose day begins at dawn.
silla - saddle.
sombrero - a wide-brimmed Mexican hat, from sombra. (shadow)
sopa - sweet bread pudding with raisons, cinnamon, nuts, and cheese.Food and Drink
sopaipilla (so-pie-pia) - fried bread made with yeast or baking powder. Food and Drink
sortija - a ring race
T
tabaco - tobacco
tabasco - liquor or sauce which is named after the Mexacan state of Tabasco. Food and Drink
tablas del fuste - saddle tree slats
taco - a Mexican dish made with corn tortillas filled with minced meat or beans, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and topped with hot chili sauce. Food and Drink
talache - a hand hoe)
tamale - a Mexican dish consisting of minced pork meat chili, corn masa wrapped in corn husks steamed and/or baked. Food and Drink
tapaderos - leather covering over the stirrups to protect against brush.
tapajos - from tapa ojos - a blind for horses and mules.
tasajero - a building in which beef was smoked and dried
tasajo - jerky.Food and Drink
tegua - soft moccasin type leather.
teja - cantle.
Tejano - a Texan.
tequila - an alcoholic beverage made from the maguey cactus. Food and Drink
teshuino - teswin or Apache beer made from corn prior to arrival of Spanish. Food and Drink
tienda - store.
tomate - tomato Food and Drink
toro - a bull.
torta - stiffly beaten egg, fried and served with red chile. Food and Drink
tortilla - rolled flat bread made of wheat or corn flour cooked on a flat surface. Food and Drink
tostada - open faced taco or tortilla with melted cheese.Food and Drink
tostados - corn tortilla wedges fried crisp. Food and Drink
trigueno - the color brunet or brown applied to a horse.
tronada tornado. The root-word of tronada is tornar - to twist or screw.
tule - depending on the region, a name applied to certain plants/trees found far out in the remote country, ergo, the saying, "out in the tulees!"
U
V
vaca - a cow.
vacada - a herd of cows.
vaciero - a man in charge of a number of sheepherders in a large outfit.
vainilla - vanilla. Food and Drink
vamos - let's go! Hence vamoose, and mosey.
vaquero - a cowboy- hence buckaroo.
vara - a measurement just under 3 feet.
vereda - a trail.
vigilante - meaning guardian of the law, righteous, vigilant.
W
X
xerga - a cloth placed between the salea and pack saddle.
Y
yerba buena - term used to refer to plants and herbs which can be used medicinally, such as mint.
yucca - a family of cacti which have palm like branches with sharp points.
Z
zapato - shoe.
zorillo skunk. Hence 'zorillas' used to describe Longhorn cattle with skunk like markings.