- Main Entry:
- ta·ma·le

- Pronunciation:
-
\tə-ˈmä-lē\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Mexican Spanish tamales, plural of tamal tamale, from Nahuatl tamalli steamed cornmeal dough
- Date:
- 1854
: cornmeal dough rolled with ground meat or beans seasoned usually with chili, wrapped usually in corn husks, and steamed