MESCAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mescal mean? 

• MESCAL (noun)
  The noun MESCAL has 2 senses:

1. a small spineless globe-shaped cactus; source of mescal buttons

2. a colorless Mexican liquor distilled from fermented juices of certain desert plants of the genus Agavaceae (especially the century plant)

  Familiarity information: MESCAL used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MESCAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small spineless globe-shaped cactus; source of mescal buttons

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

Lophophora williamsii; mescal; mezcal; peyote

Hypernyms ("mescal" is a kind of...):

cactus (any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines)

Meronyms (parts of "mescal"):

magic mushroom; mescal button; sacred mushroom (the button-shaped top of the mescal cactus; a source of psilocybin)

Holonyms ("mescal" is a member of...):

genus Lophophora; Lophophora (two species of small cacti of northeastern Mexico and southwestern United States having rounded stems covered with jointed tubercles: mescal)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A colorless Mexican liquor distilled from fermented juices of certain desert plants of the genus Agavaceae (especially the century plant)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("mescal" is a kind of...):

booze; hard drink; hard liquor; John Barleycorn; liquor; spirits; strong drink (an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented)

Holonyms ("mescal" is a substance of...):

Agave atrovirens; maguey (Mexican plant used especially for making pulque which is the source of the colorless Mexican liquor, mescal)