Glossary of Terms


Glossary of Terms

In developing this website we worked with mission scholars and each mission to identify and provide definitions of words and phrases that were commonly used in the mission era. These terms are for everything from architectural features to items of clothing and tools, and types of buildings.

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  • Adobe
  • Aguardiete
  • Alcade
  • Alferez
  • Almund
  • Alpechin
  • Alta
  • Alta California
  • Americano
  • Antap
  • Apostolic College
  • Apse
  • Arroyo
  • Asistencia
  • Asphaltum
  • Atole
  • Baja
  • Balustrade
  • Baroque
  • Barranca
  • Basilica
  • Bear Flag Revolt
  • Bee-hive oven
  • Bodega
  • Bota
  • Bulto
  • Buttresses
  • Caballero
  • Cabo
  • Californios
  • Calinche
  • Campanario
  • Campo Santo
  • Canaliño
  • Candeleros
  • Cañón
  • Cantor
  • Capilla
  • Carreta
  • Casa-reales
  • Castas
  • Cemetery
  • Cenotaph
  • Chancel
  • Channel Indians
  • Cocinero
  • Colaterales
  • Comissionado
  • Commandante
  • Commissary Prefect
  • Compound
  • Convento
  • Corridor
  • Crioles
  • Cuera
  • Cupola
  • Dado
  • Diputacion
  • El Camino Real
  • Enfermero
  • Enramada
  • Entrada
  • Escolta
  • Escopeta
  • Espadana
  • Estadal
  • Fanaga
  • Fandango
  • Fanega
  • Fiesta
  • Founders
  • Franciscan
  • Fray
  • Fresco
  • Frigate
  • Gente de Razon
  • Governor
  • Habit
  • Hidalgo
  • Informe
  • Inglesia
  • Jacal
  • Ladrillo
  • Lagar
  • Lavanderia
  • Legua
  • Letter of Marque
  • Madrina
  • Mayordomo
  • Mendicant Order
  • Merced de Tierra
  • Mestizo
  • Metate
  • Mexican-American War
  • Michumash
  • Milpa
  • Mission Vieja
  • Missionary College
  • Molino
  • Monjerio
  • Native Americans
  • Nave
  • Neophyte
  • New Spain
  • Nicho
  • Novitiate
  • Padre
  • Padrino
  • Padrón
  • Paje
  • Pandero
  • Paqwot
  • Pathfinder
  • Plaza
  • Poblador
  • Polychrome
  • Portal
  • Pozole
  • President
  • Presidio
  • Privateer
  • Procurator
  • Pueblo
  • Pulpit
  • Pulpito
  • Quadrangle
  • Ranchería
  • Rancho
  • Rectory
  • Refectory
  • Reliquary
  • Reredo
  • Restoration
  • Runaways
  • Sacristan
  • Sacristy
  • Sala
  • Sanctuary
  • Sangrario
  • Scurvy
  • Secularization
  • Shaman
  • Siliyik
  • Soldados de Cuera
  • Tabernacle
  • Tasajo
  • Temescal
  • Temporarilities
  • Testigo
  • Third Order of St. Francis
  • Tile
  • Tok
  • Tomol
  • Transept
  • Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo
  • Tribe
  • Vaquero
  • Vara
  • Vicar Forane
  • Vicar General
  • Viceroy
  • Vigas
  • Viña
  • Visitador-General
  • Wot
  • Yankee Dollars
  • Ynterprete
  • Zanja