Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Metronome

"Metronome" is that hideous thing of smoke and numbers and a needle on the Virgin Megastore building on Union Square South. It was installed in 1999 and perhaps we should give it time,…

Metroplex (Dallas/Fort Worth nickname)

To celebrate the 1973 opening of the new Dallas/Fort Worth airport (then the nation's largest), a new name was used. In 1972, the North Texas Comission trademarked "Metroplex" and…

Metropolis of America

"Metropolis” (from the Greek word polis for “city") means “a large city” and is not a city nickname peculiar to New York City. In the 1700s, Philadelphia (and sometimes Boston)…

Metrotard

"Metrotard" is a type of person whose name is derived from transit's "Metrocard." It's a combination of "metro" (from "metropolitan") and…

Mex-Mex and New Mex-Mex

"Mex-Mex" is simply Mexican food, a term that's a spin-off of "Tex-Mex." "New Mex-Mex" is New Mexican-Mexican food. The term "Mex-Mex" may have been…

Mexi-Skins (potato skins)

"Mexi-Skins" is a Tex-Mex dish of potato skins with cheese and perhaps jalapeños or salsa or sour cream added. Various recipes differ. The exact origin of the dish is unknown, but it was…

Mexiaite (inhabitant of Mexia)

"Mexiaite” is the name of an inhabitant of Mexia, Texas. The name “Mexiaite” has been cited in print since at least 1899. Wikipedia: Mexia, TexasMexia ( /məˈheɪ.ə/ mə-hay-ə or…

Mexicali (Mexicalli)

"Mexicali" (much less frequently spelled "Mexicalli") is from the names "Mexico" and "California." There is a town in Baja California (Mexico) called…

Mexican Banana Split

A "Mexican banana split" is a traditional banana split with Mexican elements added, such as Kahlua sauce and cajeta. "Mexican Banana Split" is on the menu of the Adobo Grill…

Mexican Brownie

A "Mexican brownie" is a chocolate brownie. There is no standard recipe for a "Mexican brownie" and some food authors (see the 1997 citation below) question if there really is…

Mexican Caviar (ant larvae or escamoles)

Caviar is the processed, salted roe of fish (usually sturgeon). "Mexican caviar" is a nickname that has been applied to insect eggs in Mexico that resemble and that eaten similar to…

Mexican Caviar (huitlacoche or corn smut)

Huitlacoche (also spelled "cuitlacoche") is a corn fungus (corn smut) that has long been popular in Mexican cuisine. In the 1980s, huitlacoche began to be introduced into American…

Mexican Combination Plate

Miguel Martinez supposedly invented the "Mexican combination plate" at his Dallas "El Fenix" restaurant, some time in the 1920s or 1930s. A combination plate might feature…