The Spanish word 'mecate' (meaning 'rope') comes from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word 'mecatl', which specifically referred to a rope made from maguey plant fibers. The Nahuatl word 'mecatl' itself is a compound formed from 'metl' (meaning 'maguey plant') and 'catl' (a verb meaning 'to be'). This etymology reflects the historical importance of the maguey plant in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, where its fibers were commonly used to make ropes and cordage.

Since 'mecate' entered Spanish directly from Nahuatl during the colonial period in Mexico, there aren't many simpler or more common Spanish words that share its etymology. It's one of several Nahuatl loanwords that enriched Spanish vocabulary, particularly in terms related to Mexican culture and indigenous technologies.

There aren't any common English words directly related to 'mecate' since it comes from Nahuatl. However, English has borrowed the word 'maguey' (the plant from which mecate was traditionally made) from Spanish, which ultimately comes from the same Nahuatl root 'metl' that forms part of 'mecate'.