Maguey
/mæˈɡeɪ/noun
A tropical American agave plant, especially one used for fiber, food, or drink.
Did you know?Spanish maguey comes from Taíno or a related Arawakan source, and the word entered European languages through the colonial encounter with plants that were central to Indigenous subsistence and ceremonial life.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian era
Arawakan
*maguey* (reconstructed source)
“A name for an agave-like plant in Indigenous Caribbean or mainland American usage”
15th Century
Taíno / Arawakan
maguey
“The agave plant, prized for fiber, sap, and utility”
16th Century
Spanish
maguey
“A New World agave plant, especially in Mexico and the Caribbean”
Modern English
English
maguey
“An agave plant, especially one used for fiber or beverage production”