Tequila
/təˈkiːlə/noun
A distilled spirit made from the blue agave plant, originally produced in Mexico.
Did you know?The word comes from the town of Tequila in Jalisco, whose name is usually traced to a Nahuatl place-name meaning something like “place of tribute” or “place of cutting,” not to any magical or occult root.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian / Nahuatl
Nahuatl
Tequillan / Tequila
“A place-name associated with the town and region in western Mexico.”
16th Century
Spanish
tequila
“A regional name applied to the distilled agave spirit produced near the town.”
19th Century
English
tequila
“An alcoholic spirit imported or made in the Mexican style.”
Modern English
English
tequila
“A distilled spirit from fermented agave, especially blue agave.”