yeso

plaster, gypsum

noun YEH-soh Rare

Origin: From Latin gypsum, from Greek gypsos.

Also means

plaster cast (medical)

Usage Note

Yeso means gypsum (the mineral) as well as plaster made from it — used in construction, sculpture, and medicine. In medical Spanish yeso is the word for a plaster cast on a broken limb (llevar el brazo en yeso, to have one's arm in plaster). In some Latin American countries enyesar (to plaster) and yesero (plasterer) are common derived forms. Do not confuse with escayola, the Spain-specific term for plaster cast.

Examples

"El médico le puso un yeso en la pierna."

Natural Translation

The doctor put a plaster cast on his leg.

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