Definition of Tamale by Merriam Webster. Hot tamale is sometimes used figuratively, as in our second example, to suggest sexual attractiveness, but its the words literal use that puts it in an interesting category. How many English food words can you name that derive from Nahuatl, a group of languages spoken by native peoples of Mexico and Central AmericaTry Lidia Bastianichs pork tamales recipe from her primetime special, Lidia Celebrates America. This tamales recipe comes from a San Antonio restaurant. Youve probably guessed that tamale gives you one it came to us by way of Mexican Spanish from the Nahuatl tamalli, a word for steamed cornmeal dough. Add to the menu chili from chlli, identifying all those fiery peppers chocolate from chocoltl, first used for a beverage made from chocolate and water guacamole from huacatl, meaning avocado, plus mlli, meaning sauce and tomato from tomatl. Top it all off with chipotle a smoked and dried pepper, from chlli and pctli meaning something smoked. Directed By Wolf Haley. DP Luis Ponch. Video ProductionTara Razavi. Additional Vocals By Tallulah Willis And Syd Bennett GET TICKETS TO THE ODD FUTURE. Ina.