Noun
/pa'vesa/
"Pavesa" refers to a small piece of ash or ember produced by burning wood or other materials. It is often used in the context of fires, whether they be bonfires, hearths, or any type of combustion. The word is not extremely common in everyday language, and it is more likely to be found in written texts or literary works rather than in oral speech.
El viento esparció las pavesas del fogón por todo el campo.
The wind scattered the embers from the bonfire all over the field.
Al atizar el fuego, saltaron algunas pavesas.
When poking the fire, some ash particles jumped.
Example: No eches pavesas al fuego, no queremos una discusión familiar.
Don't stir up trouble, we don't want a family argument.
Andar en pavesas
Example: No le hables ahora, anda en pavesas.
Don't talk to him now, he's in a lousy mood.
Pasar alguien como una pavesa
The word "pavesa" comes from the Latin "pavēsa," meaning "shield" or "buckler," which was a small, round shield used in ancient times to protect in close combat. Over time, the term evolved to refer to a small piece of ash, probably due to the similarity in shape.