ba|ja|da

ba|ja|da «bah HAH duh, -thuh», noun. Southwestern U.S.

1. a formation of drift extending out from the base of mountains.

2. a desert of hard, sun-baked clay resulting from such a formation. Also, bahada.

╂[< Spanish bajada descent, slope < bajar descend < Vulgar Latin bassiāre < Medieval Latin bassus; see etym. under base² (Cf. ↑base)]