maquila

Meanings

1. Synonym of medio, half-celemin, a traditional Spanish unit of dry measure equivalent to about 2.3 L.
2. Synonym of maquiladora, a factory or sweatshop in Latin American and Spanish contexts.

1. Alternative spelling of makila, a kind of walking stick.

Etymology

From Spanish maquila, from Andalusian Arabic مَكِيلَة (makíla), from Arabic مَكِيلَة (makīla, “measured”). In reference to factories, via Spanish clipping of maquiladora, from maquilar (“to assemble”) + -adora (“-ator: forming agent nouns”), from maquilar's original sense of taking a toll of grain. Also understood as a clipping within English.