[mes.cal] n [AmerSp mezcal, mescal, fr. Nahuatl mexcalli mescal liquor] (1702) 1: a small cactus (Lophophora williamsii) with rounded stems covered with jointed tubercles that are used as a stimulant and antispasmodic esp. among the Mexican Indians
2. a: a usu. colorless Mexican liquor distilled esp. from the central leaves of maguey plants b: a plant from which mescal is produced; esp: maguey