The Spanish word 'mesilla' comes from combining the Spanish word 'mesa' (meaning 'table') with the diminutive suffix '-illa'. The base word 'mesa' itself derives from the Latin word 'mensa', which also meant 'table'. The diminutive suffix '-illa' makes the word mean 'small table' or 'side table'.

The most obvious related Spanish word is 'mesa' (table), which is much more common and fundamental. Learning 'mesilla' is easier when you understand it's just a 'little mesa'. This pattern of adding '-illa' to make something smaller is very common in Spanish - for example, 'casa' (house) becomes 'casilla' (little house).

While English doesn't have many common words directly related to 'mesilla' or 'mesa', we do use the word 'mesa' to refer to a flat-topped hill or mountain with steep sides, which was borrowed from Spanish. The connection makes sense when you think about these geological formations looking like giant tables rising from the landscape. The Latin root 'mensa' also gives us less common English words like 'mensal' (relating to the table or mealtime).