The Spanish word 'concho' meaning 'dregs' or 'sediment' has an interesting dual etymology, drawing from both Indigenous American and Latin sources. It comes from the Quechua word 'qonchu', which meant 'dregs' or 'sediment', and was also influenced by the Late Latin word 'conchula' meaning 'small shell'. This combination of influences reflects the linguistic mixing that occurred during the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

Some related Spanish words include 'concha' (shell) and 'aconchar' (to arrange or settle), which share the Latin root relating to shells and settling. The connection between shells and sediment makes sense as both can be found at the bottom of bodies of water.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'conch' (a type of shell) and 'conchology' (the study of shells and mollusks), which come from the same Latin root as the shell-related meaning of 'concho'. While the English words maintained the connection to shells, the Spanish word evolved to primarily refer to sediment or dregs.