The Spanish word 'mesa' (meaning 'table') comes from the Latin word 'mensa', which meant both 'table' and 'ritual offering'. The Latin 'mensa' itself derives from 'mensus', the past participle of the Latin verb 'metiri' meaning 'to measure'. This etymology suggests that tables were originally conceived as measured or carefully proportioned surfaces, likely for practical purposes in both everyday life and religious ceremonies.

Some related Spanish words include 'mesero/mesera' (waiter/waitress, literally 'table attendant'), 'mesita' (small table or end table), and 'mesón' (inn or tavern, historically a place with tables for eating). There's also the geographical term 'mesa' which refers to a flat-topped hill or plateau, named for its table-like flat surface.

While English 'mesa' (the geological formation) is borrowed directly from Spanish, there are other English words that share the same Latin root of measurement. These include 'measure', 'measurement', 'immense' (literally 'unmeasurable'), 'commensurate' (sharing a common measure), and 'dimension' (literally 'measuring out'). All these words trace back to the Latin 'metiri' (to measure).