tasajo

noun

ta·​sa·​jo

variants or less commonly tassajo

təˈsä(ˌ)hō

plural -s

1

: jerked meat

especially : jerked beef

2

[Mexican Spanish, from Spanish] : any of several cacti of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico

especially : cholla

Word History

Etymology

Spanish tasajo, from Old Spanish, piece of meat; akin to Portuguese tossalho large piece of something to eat

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now