In the Reign of Coyote/Glossary of California Terms
GLOSSARY OF CALIFORNIA TERMS
Abalone: a shellfish found on the Pacific coast, having an iridescent shell.
Adobe: originally the sun-baked bricks; also applied to buildings built of these bricks.
Barbecue: the roasting of a whole animal in a pit,—the principal feature of many a festivity.
Cascara sagrada: a medicinal plant whose value is now appreciated by the whole world. Tons of the bark are shipped from California annually.
Chiquita: a diminutive of endearment.
La Fiesta del Señor: Christmas Day.
Lagunita: a little lake.
La Pastorela: a play performed at all the Spanish-Californian settlements on Christmas Eve. It represented the story of the Nativity and of the triumph of the Faith over the wiles of Satan.
Madre: mother.
Mission San Francisco d'Assisi: the foundation of the present city of San Francisco.
Ninita mia: "my little girl," a very common term of endearment.
Padre: father.
Pobrecita: "poor little one," commonly used to-day.
Quadrangle: the Spanish-Californian homes of the better class were built in the shape of a quadrangle, with a central court.
Ripe olives: the ripe olives are those which are not picked from the trees until they are mature. They are pickled in brine, just as the green unripe olives are, but are as much more delicious as is a ripe plum than an unripe one.
Señor: sir.
Tortillas: unleavened cakes of Indian corn or of wheat baked on the coals.
Tules: water reeds.
Whalebone: the vertebræ of the whale were used to pave streets and yards. A vertebra was often used as a seat.