wooly-haired South American ruminant, relative of the Old World camels, c. 1600, from Spanish llama (1535), from Quechua (Inca) llama.

South American plant, 1570s, from Spanish coca, from Quechua (Inca) cuca, which is perhaps ultimately from the related Aymara, a native language of Bolivia.

"social meeting of friends and neighbors at a farmer's barn to assist in husking of the newly harvested Indian corn," 1818, American English, from corn (n.1) + husk (v.). Corn-husker is from 1849.

"venomous lizard of the American southwest" (Heloderma suspectum), 1877, American English, from Gila River, which runs through its habitat in Arizona. The river name probably is from an Indian language, but it is unknown now which one, or what the word meant in it.

Central and South American name for the cassava plant, 1550s, from Spanish yuca, juca (late 15c.), probably from Taino, native language of Haiti.

"North American Indian warrior," 1827, from brave (adj.). Earlier "a hector, a bully" (1590s); "brave, bold, or daring person" (c. 1600). Compare bravado, bravo.

also postbellum, used in U.S. South from 1874 in reference to American Civil War; Latin; from post "after" (see post-) + bellum "war" (see bellicose).

type of blanket-like South American cloak or loose garment, 1717, from American Spanish poncho, from Araucanian (Chile) pontho "woolen fabric," perhaps influenced by Spanish poncho (adj.), variant of pocho "discolored, faded."

small South American rodent, 1590s, from Spanish, literally "little bug," diminutive of chinche (see chinch); perhaps a folk-etymology alteration of a word from Quechua (Inca) or Aymara.

also anteater, "animal that feeds upon ants," 1764, in reference to the South American species; 1868 of the Australian echidna; from ant + agent noun from eat (v.).